From This Day On

Looking back over the past year, looking forward to the year to come. Realizing that, in fact, all that exists is this day, this moment.

So, if I have a New Year’s resolution, it is this: to do my best to make each moment count; to live each moment, to the extent possible, in furtherance of my personal mission and vision, as I perceive and understand them today – each day. (In recent months, I have spent a lot of time “soul searching” – my mission and vision statements have evolved. I’m still working on the wording, but the essence has been distilled.)

We all have a personal mission – whether we know it or not. Just as in business, we benefit from being able to articulate our true purpose. It helps us to focus. It reminds us of our core values. It guides our actions and choices. It clarifies.

Personal mission statements are often incomplete: mere career statements composed to fit our current job-seeking situation. A blurb on our resumés about what we want to accomplish, who we want to become in a particular area over the next one to three years, intended to catch the eye of a prospective employer.

But, our mission isn’t just a statement about what we do or what we want to achieve. It shouldn’t be confused with our “elevator speech.” Our personal mission statement is about our core values, goals, and actions; our commitment, and our contribution to others. (Think “missionary”.) What do you stand for? What are you going to contribute to the world? What are the opportunities or needs that you exist to address? What are you doing to address these needs? What principles or beliefs guide your actions, your work?

If we contemplate our personal mission in terms of our potential contributions, our lives become increasingly about the gifts we share, the gifts we give. Within this frame, we are more likely to pursue and find moments of joy and passion, while bringing goodness, beauty, laughter and light into our lives and the world.

Who in the world am I? Ah, that’s the great puzzle.

- Lewis Carroll

How strange is the lot of us mortals. Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he sometimes thinks he senses it. But, without deeper reflection, one knows from daily life that one exists for other people.

- Albert Einstein

There are no extra pieces in the universe. Everyone is here because he or she has a place to fill, and every piece must fit itself into the big jigsaw puzzle.

- Deepak Chopra

Gifts of the Magi

Maybe it’s just the season – a time for introspection and reflection, hope and resolutions. Maybe it’s the fact that this past year has been so difficult in so many ways. Maybe it’s because I feel so blessed in spite of the trials. Maybe it’s a sign of growth – maybe I’ve actually made another step toward self-actualization.

Something has happened – is happening. I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few months distilling my thoughts, feelings, values, core beliefs – and I’ve recovered, re-discovered my SELF. My sense of purpose – my true purpose, my mission and my vision are becoming clear – like my vision after cataract surgery!

Ironically, if I had successfully achieved my goal two years ago – and had retired – I wouldn’t be in this place now. I might’ve been in a good place, but (I kinda’ hate to admit this) my plan wasn’t THE plan. I believe from the center of my being that my path is yet unfolding before me; I’m not done. And, I think I will be able to do all this and all that – my work and my life are more closely aligned than I can ever recall.

I want you to be everything that’s you, deep at the center of your being.

- Confucius

Your work is to discover your work, and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.
- Buddha

A man’s work is nothing but this slow trek to rediscover, through the detours of art, those two or three great and simple images in whose presence his heart first opened.
- Albert Camus

One way or another, we all have to find what best fosters the flowering of our humanity in this contemporary life, and dedicate ourselves to that.
- Joseph Campbell

Laying the Foundation

My 8-month old grandson is growing by leaps and bounds. I now understand where the expression "bouncing" baby boy came from. Each day he reveals a new skill, a new expression, a new sense of awareness and curiosity, a new connection with his surroundings.

He's becoming more human everyday. And, I see his own unique "self" evolving. Fortunately, he is surrounded by people who love him - his mother and grandparents, cousins and great-aunt. He shares smiles and laughs freely and often. He shows determination, and is encouraged, applauded, for his accomplishments.

I am aware that our earliest interactions and relationships are the foundation upon which we build our self-esteem. Before we have any grasp of the language, our sense of self is shaped - if we are loved, we are lovable. If the people who love us, express their love and respect for each other, then we feel secure. The values of our most significant others embue their actions, and we begin to "learn" values through our observations and interactions.

This is a foundation that is sometimes difficult to unearth after we become adults. What has made us who we are? After years of growing, learning and changing - our intellect and our memory fail to connect or recall the experiences we had before words controlled our thoughts.

All grown-ups were children first. (But few remember it.)

--The Little Prince