In February the brief talked of supporting and championing each other. In March, it was about self-care. This month, it’s all about me!
Previously I mentioned a book that has been helpful, The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down, by Haemin Sunim. The first line of his prologue is, “As a Zen monk and former professor at a small liberal arts college in Massachusetts, I am frequently asked for advice on dealing with life’s challenges”
No wonder I find this book inspirational and comforting. Dealing with life’s challenges is what I do. There was the marriage that I could not afford and the telephone pole that jumped in front of my car. In my sixty plus years I have found myself in many dilemmas and disasters. If I am lucky, there will be a few more, (hopefully not as disruptive) episodes in my future. Because living a full life means the occasional calamity.
Stands to reason I would have the gumption to start a concierge service that is especially adept at dealing with the challenges. Before my 30th birthday I landed a job as an administrative assistant for advertising agency. I was given the exciting job of organizing a private train for Bell Atlantic executives to jump on in Boston, Hartford, New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore winding up in D.C. for an extravagant event. Every element of that experience was sumptuous. I hired the AMTRAK Zephyr and took on the responsibilities, from arranging signature cocktails to creating informative binders and every detail in-between. I loved it. I love a challenge. I enjoy working with dedicated people. The world of details is where I am comfortable; personal, business, corporate, travel, holiday, food… I relish (pun intended) it all. I survive and better yet, I thrive.
The thing about challenges, they pass. For the most part I would confidently say, I’ve lived a charmed life.
The first time the rug was pulled out from under me was when my marriage of 27 years ended. I relied on friends, family, therapists and, yes! my lawyer and my accountant, to help me through.
With counsel, guidance, a deep sense of trust and the passing of time, I was able to forgive, move on and most importantly, marry John!
“Our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake,
to adjust to new ideas,
to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change.”
Martin Luther King Jr.
Leaning on professional guidance and personal connections has been, and will continue to be, key to my success. So are the little things, like to-do lists. As my associates will tell you, I am a lister and I persuade them to be as well. If you are not, try it.
I also encourage you to find and pursue the experiences that make you stay awake, emotionally and spiritually. Be vigilant about discovering how your life can change with each challenge. Are you making choices based on your genuine wants? What do you envision for your future? Your children’s future?
Carl Sagan said, “The visions we offer our children shape the future. It matters what those visions are. Often they become self-fulfilling prophecies. Dreams are maps.”
- Great Article on Self-Fulfilling Prophecies
- Read about the Psychology of the to-do list.
- I encouraged Self Care last month… now IKEA is in!
XO,
Jane
CEO, Jane Barr Horstman & Associates