Start Lines

October 17, 2020

“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.” – Fred DeVito

In March, I signed up for the Marine Corp Marathon when COVID was just beginning, convinced it would last a few weeks, a month at most. Each week passed and then the next. Like many businesses, we cleared out of our office and 85 staff have been working remote for almost seven months. As the weeks turned to months, more events and activities got canceled and it became clearer that the finish line of the pandemic was not in sight. We remained hopeful by summer this would pass, and it didn’

“No great thing is created suddenly.”

– Epictetus

Secret Formula! Daily Habits + Time = Finish Line = New Start Line

May 17, 2020

On March 20th, a few weeks into the pandemic when we had no clue of the extent, I took out a large journal and began writing in it each morning to capture these moments while in the middle of them. Allowing thoughts and ideas to flow onto the page with no rules, judgment or editing.

In addition, I started posting daily on my other blog Cast-Light and have a 58 day streak going. Neither are perfect, but the daily practice of starting is leading to improvement and progress. If I waited to hit the “publish” button until I achieved perfection, the pages would still be blank. Ideas, insights and inspiration are rooted in messy first drafts that evolve into final-enough versions.

**“The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.”**
*— Gertrude S. Wister*

— Gertrude S. Wister

A Call to Starting, NOW!

April 2, 2020

“For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Our “views” about things have certainly changed, flipped upside down to say the least. Now, right now is the precise time to abandon old thinking, move through the grieving of change and pursue revelation. The media messages of “uncertainty,” “unprecedented times” and “we’re in this together” are obvious, hollow and stale. We must go deeper, beyond and farther to pursue the #otherside with vigor, resolve and rigor.

Economic and health uncertainty is very real and daunting, but not impossible. The 24/7 news cycle reminds us that we will never be the same and promotes fear of the future. If we buy into it, we will miss out on this “seed-planting” time. This rare, unfamiliar and expansive space is prime time to create, re-imagine and innovate. Together, let’s release fear and get to work bolstered with a new energy, enthusiasm and fresh eyes to see new connections, patterns and paths through to the other side filled with hope and possibility.