Leaving the UPS Customer Service Center this past week I felt a sense of completion, a relief that another task had been accomplished, an ending. I also felt sadness, a letting go. I was returning the business laptops, monitor, and cords to the company that had employed me for over 10 years. Another chapter of my life was ending.
Once back home I saw the rearranged office space, the cleaned out closet and desk drawers... and I was ready for the next chapter to begin!
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| Is your Life's Path blocked? (Photo: closed gate and passage, Harfleur, France) |
Reflecting on beginnings and endings, I remembered other times in my life when there was a sense of finality - that a fork or turn in the road was providing a moment of Pause and Choice. Gained was the ability to appreciate a new perspective.
Remember those words of encouragement to look for open windows when doors close? I wonder if hope is hardwired into us to Look Beyond closed gates and seek passages that reveal new perspectives and challenges?
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| What do you see options beginning to open? (Photo: open passageway, Harfleur, France) |
It is important for me, I realized, to stop and savor the transition points from Endings to Beginnings... from finality to what lies ahead. Noticing the changes that I am experiencing -- thoughts, emotions, hopes, dreams --- allows me time to welcome in the Adventures Unfolding.
One of those adventures is sharing what I am noticing. As an example: one of Family Circus' children states that his dad is wearing his hat backwards. Is this noticing about Right-or-Wrong? Is one hat worn correctly and another isn't? Or, if we step back, maybe the adventure is all about Noticing! One person is aware that a difference or inconsistency is present.
How do we want to respond? Correcting... or asking questions? Winning an argument... or considering other options?
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| Whose perspective is correct? (Photo credit: Family Circus, Bil and Jeff Keane, 11.06.21) |
Maybe the ending of judgments will open us to understanding others. Maybe the beginning of understanding will offer new or different choices. Maybe seeking opportunities to pause and choose will finally move us to accept one another. Maybe finality will provide freedom... to wear our hats in the way that suits us!
Endings and beginnings are not all about individual choices, though. Finality and looking beyond comes when we can balance what is happening in our individual lives with its impact on others. Sharing what we notice and listening to others is the beginning our society needs right now.
What endings and beginnings do you see in your life?
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| Larry Gardepie (click on link for website) |
I love the way you process with curiosity and compassion. It opens the door to connection and exploration.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your noticing! My mind processes throughout the week... ranges of thoughts and emotions... so when I sit down on the weekend to reflect on the past week, it takes 2-3 hours to sift through the complexity of life... and to get to a curiosity that is beneficial!
DeleteI have always loved your perspective my friend. You are a force for good in the universe.
ReplyDeleteJeff... I am surrounded by wonderful people who have been patient with me over the years! You have shown me how to be respectful and draw out the good in others. Thank you!
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