Second Wind

As with most times you are under pressure you look in the mirror, dig deep and look for inspiration to keep you motivated. I'm in a pressure cooker right now but somehow I find a way to maintain a sense of control.

I've taken on a lot this semester. Two classes that are very time consuming, training for a triathlon and heading into busy season at work with some very tight deadlines. On top of that trying to maintain a presence in the community charitiable and socially. I'm officially busy. I would have to say this is definitely a growth period. A time to see what mustard I am made of. I've gone through periods of not being able to handle it and have come out all right. I read yesterday Nietzsche's quote what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I can see how it's true but it also makes you weary.

I'm taking a corporate social responsibility class and it's having me examine my values. What were the clear touchpoints in my life where I was faced with an ethical choice that challenged my values. One thing I learned this weekend is no matter how much time passes and the world evolves you can't escape your past. It is a part of who you are. I've made some bad value judgements. It's time to learn from them so they aren't repeated. It's also time to leave the past in it's place and make room for the future. As Ryan Bingham said in the movie Up In the Air, "What's in your backpack?"

Ciao Ciao

Par For The Course

Serenity Now! 2010 and all's well.. Well until you pick that scab off and realize that underneath there is a bleeding nearly infectious wound protected only by the scab you just peeled off. The lesson? Leave well enough alone and don't let curiosity give you gangrene.

Tonight's letter is G for giving a shit. What happens when someone you hang out with doesn't show up to a scheduled event nor return phone calls or text messages for several days? I'll tell you what! You get concerned! It's amazing the lengths you would go through to reach someone and the fear surrounding the unknown. After repeated attempts to get a hold of this person even driving by their house, you leave well enough alone cause you think they are just laying low but they then still don't answer after a couple more days then you want to break the door down and expect to see them lying in a pool of their own blood and the place ransacked. Again, fear and imagination can really play tricks on your mind. Needless to say a bunch of us gave a shit and we all can breathe a sigh of relief - but like the balloon boy's parents, he's "got some 'splainin to do."

Fear can be paralyzing. Being unsure of the next step, not wanting to make a decision for fear it could be the wrong one. Or what I've seen more of lately is not making a decision because you just don't have one in front of you. I think there are two actions that must happen to keep moving forward - trust your gut and get as much information as you can before making a move. Both may seem mutually exclusive but since we live in a dynamic world they definitely can happen at the same time. That's how I think many leaders move forward. Right foot in front of the left. Now Move.