"Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans." —Allen Saunders, quoted in Readers Digest, 1957 (Not John Lennon; sorry.)
Resolution Check-in
We’re nearing the end of January, and I’m taking a look at the wreckage of my resolutions and plans and feeling despair. I started strong with a clear plan and great momentum. Then my daughter got the flu—five days of fever (and yes, she’d had the flu shot). A few days later, a close family member collapsed and had to be placed in the Intensive Care Unit. Everything stopped to focus on what needed attention: my family.
Sometimes You Have To Do The Necessary Thing
It’s not possible to function at the height of human productivity at all times, and that is okay. There are moments when our dreams need to take a temporary backseat because—while we may be able to do it all—we definitely cannot do it all, all at once. The thing to bear in mind is just how important it is to pursue our dreams as intensely as possible in those moments when it is possible, when there is some space in our lives to do so. Because, as they say, you have to fix the roof before it starts raining, not during the storm.
Weather Changes
I know that this situation, like everything else, will pass, and I’ll once again be able to take up my goals. When the wind turns, I’ll set my sails. In the meantime, I’ll do what I can. If your resolutions are going strong, congratulations! If you’ve gotten off track, just know that you’re not alone. But the truth is that we don’t need January 1 to pursue our goals. Any day will do, as long as you’re ready.
