Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Hairpin Turns in Life's Road

How do you count accomplishments?  Are they measured in grains, ounces, pounds, liters or kilograms?  No, this isn’t a lesson in metric versus US unit measures.  It is a sanity check to understand expectations and where we see things daily.
From my perspective, as if I’d have the perspective of another person, there is no right or wrong answer to the measurement question.  There is an accomplishment in everything I do.  I don’t compare the depth, breadth or girth of accomplishments.  I attempt to build upon each so that the accumulation of these satisfaction generators gives me reason to be hopeful every day.  I’m no Polly Anna but I do know that sustaining momentum requires a delicate balance between expectations and reality.
Yes, reality can be frustrating, confounding and flummoxing.  You might feel terra firma softening or moving ever so slightly as happenstance attempts to disrupt your energy.  You don’t have to succumb.  You can overcome.
I’m not telling you I never feel the urge to allow the world to get ahead of me.  I will tell you that I am high speed, low drag.  That’s a term coined by crisis management groups.  I’ll borrow it and return it hopefully brighter and more burnished than when I accepted temporary possession.
Case in point, today was one of those attempts at life to place a hairpin curve in my road.  A long-time employee and wonderful person departed this life, shedding her mortal coil leaving a hole in my life.  The woman was genuine, loving and caring.  I will miss her as will the multitude of people whose lives she touched.  I will grieve; in fact already shed the first round of tears.  There will be more.  But I will not be derailed.  Her memory will live vividly in me as I continue to direct company operations for as long as I am able.  She had unequivocal opinions about how to improve things.  I took her insights to heart.  I’m glad I did.
We all have one or more of these model citizens we are honored and humbled to know.  Have you told that person how you feel?  Can you divulge the feelings or are you restrained by convention or some other artificial barrier?  Do yourself a favor and convey feelings.  You will appreciate the joy you impart and the recipient will smile from the heart as he or she thanks you probably blushing in the process.
When I told this dear lady how much I appreciated her contribution, in typical style she shrugged off the compliment as if it didn't apply to her.  She could have dialed back the humility but that would have been disingenuous.
Enjoy the benefits of life lived to a slightly different rhythm.  Cherish those who have touched you indelibly.  It’s one of the wonders of humanity.

Love and hugs, Nikki DiCaro

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