Just when you think you have it all worked out; when you know exactly what the next few months of your life are gonna look like, a Southern wind blows in and changes direction, without the convenience of the weatherman giving you a heads up. That’s what happened to me in a short twelve hour period last Tuesday.
The announcement was made that the company I’ve been working with for 12 months, Rockhouse Partners, was acquired by a ticketing company; it was a surprise to me. That same evening, the fans and advocates of “Save My Fairgrounds” made an historic showing at a council meeting to let their voice be heard that their fairgrounds wasn’t just something that could be tossed out with last years funnel cake dough. They were able to persuade the council in an unanimous decision to STOP the demolition of the 106 year old racetrack and to continue the Tennessee State Fair, world-class flea market and Expo Center–at least for now. It was quite a day and night from where I sat and with that announcement came change and at least a question I had to ask myself. Do I have it in me to run the Tennessee State Fair again?
I was a bit overwhelmed on Wednesday but when I stopped to breathe I realized that what lay ahead is an abundance of awesome opportunity; opportunity to carve out what I wanted to do with the two announcements. Sometimes change happens in the form of mergers, acquisitions and council votes…and sometimes, it comes in the form of how we react to it.
Maria Robinson once quoted, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
I like the idea of starting today to make my new ending. Typically I would assume that we have two reactions to choose from when change is forced upon us: fight it or embrace it. I’m embracing it with a mindset that is aligned with what works for ME! What that is EXACTLY is yet to be determined this early in the game, but one thing for certain and to quote Sheryl Crow, “…a change would do me good.”
I started tooling around on the internet to help me through my concept of change. The Shapiro’s summed ways to deal with change pretty darn good:
1. Accept what is! If you can change something, then do; if you can’t change anything, then release resistance and simply be with what is.
2. Take risks. Life is about not having answers, taking chances and risks, and making the most of every moment, all without knowing what is going to happen next.
3. Be your own best friend. It is easy to blame and shame yourself, but now is the time you deserve the most love and kindness of all.
4. Every day is a new beginning. Each time you take a step forward you have no idea what might happen. But nothing will happen if you continue to stay where you are.
5. Keep falling as long as you keep picking yourself up! Making mistakes is not the problem, but not learning from them and moving on is.
6. Nothing is permanent, so appreciate every moment, fully and completely, as it will never happen again.
7. Think with your heart instead of your head. When you come from your heart you come to your senses!
8. Meditate. Take time to just stop and breathe, to remember why you are here, and to find what is of real meaning to you.
9. Don’t take yourself too seriously. A good sense of humor prevents a hardening of your attitudes, and stops your opinions from getting too rigid!
10. Do something for someone else and make giving a part of your life, even if it is just a simple smile and a hug
I think these are extremely simple steps to follow when faced with change. I also think that believing that change is a good thing and never a bad thing is a great way to think.
So, today as the winds of your life take a swirl or a new direction, know that you are STILL very much the one responsible for how you react to it and more importantly what you do with it. Life is short…change is inevitable…and fighting it won’t get you what you want. As for me and what I want? It’s a work in progress; it’s a beautiful thing to know that it’s up to me. Change, opportunity, new beginnings…all a part of life and all a part of the next 3 months in all of our lives. Don’t get too comfortable and don’t worry if the weatherman forgets to predict winds of change in your forecast…I promise you they’re coming so you might as well buy a wind breaker for when it does!
