Sometimes, it's worth taking a seat and staring into nature to get into a good place.
On this cold and somewhat snowy Sunday (winter? Really?), I wanted to post a short blog about some things I’ve realized a bit more lately.
I know it sounds cheesy and cliche, but I’ve had a bit of time to reflect the past few days. You see, Saturday was the one-year anniversary of my personal “Crap Day” as I’ll call it. The day I was unceremoniously told my services would no longer be needed as my position had been cut.
The year has been long and, at times, quite hard.
Alas, I plug along. I keep applying. I keep interviewing. I keep pushing along. Something will eventually happen. Of that, I’m sure.
My spirit remains decent, I’m usually optimistic and I try and remain upbeat.
Still, in trying times like this, one tends to look around and see things a bit differently. Items such as taking a different route in your life and where that may have led you, instead of where you are now. Alas, every turn can have positives and negatives. Should I have taken a different turn years ago, maybe I wouldn’t have the same set of friends I have now — ones who I’ve been close to for a decade or more. I’ve had the chance to see then have kids and succeed in life and for that, I’m truly thankful.
‘Tis hard as well at times, knowing the past year has pushed me backward as I see younger folks continue to push forward. It’s not easy being green, as the great prophet Kermit the Frog once said.
With all the turmoil in this world, however, it’s hard to look at things too harshly. For things like this, my mind makes the rest of my body and world realize that pushing forward can be a blessing of sorts.
But enough of the jibber jabber. How about a point?
Over the course of the past year, I’ve realized the importance of touching base with friends and family of the past. There’s certain things that are necessary to do — and the keeping touch part is one that I am trying to do better with. Now, realize this, I’m not an “add everybody to Facebook” sort of guy. By that I mean that I won’t add people on that social network just because I knew somebody one day in the past (and, to be fair, I don’t usually add people I only know online — I like to know someone in person).
So that means I don’t connect with all of my past acquaintances.
But this weekend was a nice one.
I went twice to Cooperstown for its winter Carnivale and connected with a couple of friends of old. It’s not that I don’t see them or talk to them — I do at times either on the phone or if I run into them. But this was different. I stopped in each day and chatted with them and got to see their two-year old. I couldn’t believe that it might have been the first times I had seen their child.
Crazy, right?
But seeing both of them in their daughter really made me realize something.
Losing touch with people of your past — people that mean something to you — can also make you lose touch with your future.
It’s things like this in life that make you stop for a moment. In reality, none of us know how long we have on this planet or what awaits us after. So one needs to stop and, for lack of a better cliche, smell the roses.
Believe me, I won’t be in a rush to go adding people on Facebook. I’m just not that interested in many things from my past.
But that handful of people you’ve always called friends, make an effort. You might be surprised at the outcome.
Family, too.
I still look back at this past summer and the family reunion we held and am shocked at how many new family members I know.
I know some of this has been in past blogs. But one year is a long time. A long time of plodding along and having time to think, reflect and see the world slowly turn.
A few other things I’ve really started to notice over the past year:
- Smile. It’s good for you as it is someone else.
- “Thank you” goes a long way.
- The speed of technology isn’t going to slow down, so embracing it is something that needs to be done.
- Everyone has a story to tell, if you listen.
- And for those of you with a camera, photographs are everywhere. Just look outside the box.
It’s my hope that one year from now, I won’t be doing another reflection post because things haven’t improved for me. By then, my smiles and spirits probably would have been nailed into a tree!
The world is a crazy place, people. Connect, re-connect and see things in a wider view. You’ll be surprised at what you can see.
Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!
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