For those who know me, or who have been following any of my social media posts, you know that I’m generally one to favour positivity. Even in these troubled times, I choose to put my attention and energy on optimism, positivity, gratitude and humour.
While some people may look at me and see a naive, fool-hearty fellow who thinks that meditating, thinking happy thoughts and writing gratitude lists will cure the world, know that I am not a blathering idiot. I do realize the severity and challenge that our entire planet is facing with COVID-19. The difference is that I choose not to feed the fear and panic; I choose to feed love and positivity.
The day has finally arrived! The day that introverts all around the world have been training for all their lives. Thanks to the spread of COVID-19, the world is going on lockdown. Many countries, such as my home and native land of Canada, have recommended (if not outright mandated) self isolation. And now we’re going to see how well people can adjust.
Now don’t get me wrong – I am not minimizing the seriousness of the Coronavirus. Rather, I am coping with it by means of my natural state. Humour.
Today is March 3rd – a day of great significance and meaning in my life. Rather than write yet another blog post about my Second Life Day anniversary today, I thought I would take a different approach this year. Time to look at a few realizations that I have had recently.
In yesterday’s post, I wrote about feeling like my batteries were drained. I’ve spent the past few months not really doing anything to help my state, so it was time to make a change.
After taking some time to reflect, I’ve opted to use the month of February as a recharging month. What do I mean by a recharging month? Let me share with you my plan for this month.
Through much of 2019, I’d noted that I had light bulbs acting weirdly around me. They would frequently start flickering for a few minutes then stop. We had a number of bulbs that just stopped working. (Yes, I realize that happens with light bulbs, but some of these were replaced and died again on us shortly afterwards) We even had one light bulb that burned out 3 times in the past two years. Each time, it would be out for a day or two, I’d touch it to take it out and then it would light up again and last months before happening again. After the third “resurrection”, I was forced to replace the bulb.
One year ago yesterday, I was starting in a new role with my employer. I’d spent the better part of the previous 8 years in leadership roles and felt it was time for a change. As luck would have it, my Director had a new role being created and I was one of the lucky candidates who moved into this still-undefined role.
Flash forward a year. While I wasn’t disliking my job, I wasn’t fully loving it either. I had a lot of freedom in the role – I didn’t have any direct reports, but also didn’t have any daily tasks that kept me at my desk Monday to Friday. It helped stretch my capacities and gave me a chance to develop and grow.
As we turn the page on the calendar and usher in a new decade, I thought it would be the opportune time to plan out what I want to do in 2020. While I’m not a believer in setting “resolutions” in the traditional sense, I do still like to set goals for myself. I’d much rather approach these as goals than resolutions, but I don’t want to get into a contextual discussion about the use of goal vs resolution.
As a compromise, here are 7 things I will do in 2020:
I think it is fair to say that 2019 was a year of change. Not only 2019, but the latter part of this decade has brought on change. Our world has faced a myriad of changes in so many different forms. We have had major catalysts such as Donald Trump who have accelerated change. Like him or loathe him, we cannot argue that he has not been a trigger for change in the world. It remains to be seen where the changes he has activated will bring us, but I remain on the hopeful side of the discussion.
We’ve seen perceptual changes this past year as well. One of the biggest forces behind one of these shifts was Greta Thunberg. This 16-year old climate activist has mobilized a massive amount of people around the globe. While there is still much work to do here, the fact that so many millions upon millions of people have started to shift their focus to this new mindset is both amazing and encouraging.
Come gather ’round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You’ll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savin’ Then you better start swimmin’ Or you’ll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin’.
Bob Dylan, The Times They Are a-Changin’
On a personal front, this year has seen some change as well. I’ve had a change of job, I’ve had changes in my own mindset and perceptions about myself and the world around me. I continue to grow and evolve as a person and do feel that I’m ending this year, and this decade, as a better version of myself than I began as.
Tout change…everything changes. That is the one absolute in life.
I started the year with a post about change. I thought it fitting to end on a post about change.
It doesn’t take a lot to make a change. You can change your habits, you can change your career path, you can change your opinion, you can change anything. I feel that one of the most challenging changes is that of perception and attitude. Remember that you don’t have to make huge changes to have an impact on yourself of those around you. Every thought you have, every action you take, is like a drop of water hitting a pool. Each drop causes tiny little ripples to shoot out in every direction around you. These ripples can turn into waves. The more ripples you make, the further it will spread around you.
It is important to be mindful of what you are putting out into the world. When those waves hit the edge of the water, it causes a rebound to come back towards you. What you put out, you get in return. If you focus your energy on negativity, on pain, on suffering, you will attract that same energy back onto you. Take the challenge to try to change your thoughts; even if it’s just for one minute each day. I dare you to try.
It’s that time of year! We are under two weeks away from Christmas Day. Can you believe that? Two weeks! This year has just flown by faster than I can even begin to understand. Yet here we are.
By this time in December, I’m usually knee deep into my Christmas viewing, listening to Christmas music, etc. But this year, I’m not there yet. I have only watched one single Christmas movie/special (Noelle on Disney+). I’ve just been too tired, both physically and mentally to invest myself any further.
But with two weeks to go, I recognize that it’s time to jump in with both feet. I think this might just be the boost I need to re-energize me for the rest of the year. So this week, I will let the spirit of the season wash over me. It all starts tonight.
