I was almost surprised this past week to speak with a number of people who have forgotten the importance of little things in a life or who outright dismiss the concept. Almost surprised but not quite because the sad truth is I run into these people all the time. Sometimes I'm even one of them.
Now I'm not advocating stressing over the small stuff but attention needs to be paid. After all, how much does a snowflake weigh? Hardly measurable, right? But get enough of them together and they are a force to be reckoned with.
Our lives are strung together from little moments. So why do we we sit back and wait for the grand gesture, the heroic act or a winning lottery ticket to change the course of our life? I see this everyday in people waiting for their 'big break' or envious of a friend's "overnight success" while all the time they let opportunities melt away in their hands.
If you truly want your life to be different in the future you must start today, right where you are by making those small but important choices. Pile them up and before you know it, the obstacles are buried while you glide along smoothly on the surface, picking up speed!
That was one of my first lessons when I went "offline" last fall to build a new arm of my business. I knew it wasn't going to happen unless I showed up every day and took care of the little stuff.
Pick up the phone.
Learn a new skill.
Get supper on the table.
(The flip side of all this was not being attached to the outcome --which can make for an interesting balancing act. More than once I found myself headfirst in a drift, trying to get back on my feet.)
WHAT I KNOW...
We can waste a lot of time waiting for something big to happen. Or we can start small, with what we can handle right now and make something happen. Once you get into motion, momentum will take over. Kind of like downhill skiing.
What`s one small action you could take today?
Okay, okay. I know I disappeared for quite awhile but honestly, there was a good reason for it. Here I was writing and talking about life balance and time management while my own life was spinning faster and faster. In good conscience, I had to step back.I would have felt out of integrity with you to try and carry on.
After all, how could I write about taking time for self, keeping life in balance and all that other important "coach stuff " if I was trying to cram 36 hours of effort into 24. (Less if I wanted to eat and sleep.)
When I looked at what I wanted to accomplish last autumn, I knew I had drop some of the things I was up to but I did it with an eye to returning with some valuable things to share. I knew there would be some exciting and interesting changes during that time and I wasn't disappointed.
SO - thank you to everyone who wrote or spoke to me to let me know how much you missed hearing from me. I appreciated your concern and apologize for the long silence. Thanks for the patience.
It was a deliberate choice but not an easy one.
One thing I learned is that the world doesn't fall apart when you let a few balls drop, even when you love juggling. I missed the introspection that my writing allows me. I missed hearing from my readers. I missed the discipline and creativity of blogging. The hardest choices are always between the good and the good. If it's between good and bad - no brainer. (Well, maybe not if I have to choose between brussel sprouts and chocolate... but you know what I mean.)
When was the last time you gave yourself permission to drop all but one ball and really pay attention to what was in your hand at that very moment? If you can't remember, maybe it's time. You can't create a bold life living in a distracted state. Success in life requires your presence and your attention.
But for now, I really just want to say "Hi" and let you know I'm back. I've got lots to share about the soul of success, living boldly and the power of paying it forward.
WHAT I KNOW...
Sometimes you have to take a few steps back to create momentum for your big leap forward.
