‘You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending’.
I read this a few weeks ago and thought it was profound. A light bulb to illuminate the mind. And, then, whilst sitting amongst the befuddled and tired early morning commuters ready for another day in the madness that is London, the thought dropped in – what about not thinking about the end but just focusing on the present. What I / we can do now to affect today.
So, after a gentle prod from the big lad aka my son, Ben, a view from the ground sits up, sets up, and takes a fresh approach to ways to focus on what I / we can do to make the most of every day. It’s a bit frantic at the moment from a global perspective but we can only affect our world, not the world, so let’s grab the oxygen mask, breathe in and shake it up.
From a personal perspective, positivity is not natural. In short, I’m grumpy. I have a leaning towards been frustrated by idiots. But, my definition of an idiot is unfair on true idiots. My idiot radar is triggered by non-indicating, last minute lane changing, I’ll just pull out of the road without looking kind of idiots. Yep, I know, we’re all the same on this subject.
I’ve just been reading some stuff about about having presence when you’re in leadership. Part of that ability is to be able to accept yourself, to be the true authentic version of yourself and to reflect your values in what you do.
So, if like me, you’re grumpy and frustrated by others drivers, embrace it!
There are other grumpy triggers but that’s work in progress. Work to remove that is, not to get better at the grumpiness.
I talk to my round table of the trusted. A lot.
An obsession is about been our authentically perfectly imperfect selves. Accept yourself. I’ve realised I am maddeningly boring – to others. I take endless pictures. Of the sky. Of trees. Of random boats, little boats bobbing about in the sea or on a sandy bank. Of flowers on portrait mode. Of my family. Of Barney, Bubbles, and, occasionally, Zeek. But, the most are ridiculously hideous selfies. Ego? No. I’m old, over weight, bald, with a bulbous head. It’s because I can and, with my oxygen mask attached, I’ve decided to live my life. Smile, I might just be about to take a photo.
When I wake up, I know I’m blessed. I woke up. Some mornings I have little space to celebrate waking up because the long lump lying next to me has taken over the bed. Body a jumbled mass of limbs in her sleeping bliss. A true blessing as I hear a range of waking rumbles. Joy.
Welcome to Bubbs aka Bubbles aka Michaela Bubblea aka The Bubbster. She will share her thoughts in her own blog – This Dog Can Fly – when the time is right and she’s improved her keyboard skills and worked on her English.
It’s grabbing the simplicity of life. Trying to see life as Bubbs sees it. We have a choice. Watch or listen to the news. We know what it will be about. Crisis. Financial struggles. Conflict. Division. Destruction. Or get up, run down the garden; sniff the air; scare a few birds off; drop and squat; and seize the day.
The day is full of opportunities. Many of us are lucky to work. It’s a pleasure to work with inspirational people.
As I’ve laid out, I’m old so to be in a position to be surrounded by great people is something to be grateful for. We spend most of the week at work so the importance of seeing all that is positive within that space cannot be underestimated.
But the day is also topped and tailed for opportunities to see life in its purest form. My early morning walk is the perfect opportunity to open the door into day. You can choose to embrace what is through the door or slam it shut. Your choice.
My natural state is one not even wanting to open the door. It’s easier to leave it shut; that way you don’t have to face what’s on the other side. However, life events have secured a different perspective to ‘what if’.
What if I open the door and life changes forever? Let’s go right back to the start of this blog. ‘You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending’.
So, what if you open the door and it’s the first day of the rest of your life. What if every single day is the first day of the rest of your life.
What if opening the door every single day is the biggest gift you could ever receive. The chance to do it all, whatever it is, again and again and again.
It’s what inspires me to get up, get out, get that fat body moving. Looking for the boat. Admiring the flower.
To close out for now, I saw these words – your normal day is someone’s dream. Be thankful every day.
Thank you. Have a great one.
Jon
View From The Ground 