End of a Big Year

Most people mark Labor Day as the close of the summer. I typically hold that summer lasts until September 15 passes.

This summer was an especially relevant summer for me. Many of you who know me know that it was the summer of change. Overall, life taught many important lessons. There were some “learning experiences” which may not have been as fun, but I just learn from them, move on, and do the best I can.

The lesson was both personal and professional. More or less, I learned to not continually focus on the future, but to enjoy whatever life gives – to enjoy and live in the journey and not to focus as much on the destination.

I kind of already knew that, so the lesson contained some underlying messages. For one, I should let little things go. I should learn from them and not repeat them, but I don’t need to analyze them or discuss them with people.

Secondly, I need to not get over-excited, not matter how good or bad things seem to be. If they are bad, they are usually not as bad as I believe. If they are good, but getting over-excited, I almost guarantee that by doing so, I will somehow interrupt the good.

From that second lesson, I’ve been working on detecting when I get excited. If it’s something bad, I just need to breathe. If it’s something good, I just need to internalize and smile.

Overall, the destination is irrelevant unless relationships with the people on the journey are maintained.