Happy Twenty Twenty Two? Yes, With Forward Motion

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect”

― Alan Cohen

Forward motion is not what comes to mind describing the last two years.  Lockdowns, hindrances, interruptions, and constant adjustments have taken an emotional toll on all of us and have tried to define us.

This was one of the realizations I came to during a Sit-A-While retreat this past week.  The week between Christmas and New Year is the time I take to reflect and review the past quarter and year.  This provides a foundation from which to look forward to the coming year.  The tool I use for this exercise is the Full Focus Planner.  The retreat provided space, ambiance, structure, and accountability.

The retreat was online.  Sixteen people from at least seven countries participated.  The organizer and I met through yet another online forum, Platform University.  She reached out a few months ago asking me to consider conducting one of the workshops around my message: “Give Your Story A Voice“.  I jumped on board both as a presenter and participant.

Forward Motion Through Looking Back

As I thought about this past year, I set aside the frustration over goals not achieved, due primarily, to events beyond my control.  In doing so, many things that DID come to pass emerged.  There was, in fact, Forward Motion!

I am reminded of the scripture in Ecclesiastes:  “He who watches the wind will fail to sow, and he who observes the clouds will fail to reap.” Another translation puts it like this:  “He who watches the wind [waiting for all conditions to be perfect] will not sow [seed], and he who looks at the clouds will not reap [a harvest].”  Any farmer worth his salt know that waiting for perfect conditions will end in ruin.

The same applied to air traffic control.  When someone got a bit whiney about poor equipment, bad weather, or other circumstances generally making the job more difficult, we would respond with “Any fool can work under ideal conditions”!  In other words, it takes extraordinary people to maintain forward motion, when everything seems to be working against you.

What I saw during these few days was yes, it has been tough, but when has there ever been the ideal perfect world?  It does not exist.  It’s time to pick myself up, shake it all off, and step into forward motion.

Will I have to adjust?  Yes.  Will it be the same as before?  No, it may even be better.  All I know is I am not giving up or giving in.  2022 here I come!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

What first step will you take to give YOUR 2022 some forward motion?  Please comment and let me know!