I don’t really feel it is fair that I am writing a blog post… almost TWO YEARS since my last one. Yes, that is correct. I last put up a blog post in January of 2019 not long after we made the infamous return to the tundra after our brief stint in Florida. Not that I am going to get into the details of the last 2 years (especially this last year alone) because many already know the ups and downs that have happened. I’m sure I’ll touch on some of those points as I write along here. With so much happening in our own family world and around us I’ve forced myself to “think” even more than ever and many of my thoughts I’ve captured in notes on my phone or in memories or in conversations that keep happening. I realized recently that many of these thoughts and contemplations are consistent and they return to occupy my gray matter consistently enough… so I knew I had to do something with them. Without further ado… I give you the latest “I’ve Been Thinking…” blog post!
If you are honest with yourself and those closest to you, there will come a point in your life or career when you take a pause (for however long it takes) to reflect on certain moments, circumstances, situations and even hopeful outcomes. This has happened to me often at various times in my personal life and in my professional career. I have also connected with others that have been through similar periods in their lives as well. What I have found interesting is that I am aware of more and more “Rally Points” in my life.
You see, the course of your life will take turns that will completely alter your perception of what you are doing and why you are here. These are moments that there is no big explanation of, that’s for sure. Many people spend a lot of time trying to figure them out and while they think about and dwell on what happened before (in the past) they miss what is happening right now and may miss opportunities to impact their future and the future of others as well. As we get older most of us tend to think more and maybe react less. This allows us to get the full picture and become more knowledgable in different areas. I’m a critical thinker (to a fault) and I can be overly cynical as well. This keeps me on my toes, I feel, and it keeps me “thinking” a lot. Then there comes a time, or even times, that we change our direction and our thoughts and our perspectives. Maybe not outwardly at first but maybe just enough that we find a “Rally Point”. A point in our lives, in our day/week/month/year of living that we get a boost, we uncover something within us. Or better yet, someone else has helped us find that “Rally Point”.
TWENTY TWENTY. Yes, I am referring to the year we are all anxiously waiting to end. 2020. The year everyone had bigger expectations for. We’ve seen a lot this year. Despite all the troubles this year brought for so many people around the world – it brought joy. It brought happiness. It brought… a “Rally Point”. We have ALL been forced to find a Rally Point (or several this year). You and I know there is only so much negativity you can read about, or watch, or even converse about. There has to be more. And there IS… so many of us have found it several times. One example is here in our house: Many know it’s not easy with Shane and the behaviors he exhibits daily force us to walk on egg shells. When schools closed in March of this year, Shane’s world crashed down around him. Immediately he lost any routine he was into. Stores were limited in capacity and we were all initially fearful to go anywhere. We stayed home. Everyone did. Shane suffered. There was no way around it. Long story short – a Rally Point finally arrived when Shane was given the opportunity to return to school almost 6 months later for two days per week. It was a start and we saw a “Rally Point” for Shane. After more bumps in schools days and stalls due to more shut downs and more closures Shane was again given the chance to return to school 1 day per week. It hasn’t been normal and his time in school is not enough but it was SOMETHING. And this something… was a “Rally Point”. Another example close to home here is from this summer when Ryan moved out of the house began living on her own. We knew it was coming, we helped her prepare as best we could. We helped her pack her stuff and helped her move it. And she was ready. It was time for her to be on her own and start living her best life outside of the chaotic walls of our home. This was a great “Rally Point” for Ryan as she was able to adjust to her new life and focus on different things. We are proud of her as she continues to rally!
You may or may not get the point of this writing and it is very out-of-the-blue. But believe me… there are “Rally Points” for everyone. They can be small – like getting a cup of coffee in the morning after a sleepless night – BOOM, “Rally Point”. It can be a phone call or text from a friend or family member that puts that smile back on your face – BOOM, “Rally Point”. Rally points can be bigger – like when you are in a random conversation with your wife and in that conversation you decide you are going to start a new cookie business – BOOM, “Rally Point”. So, for my first blog post in nearly 2 years, I’d like to consider this moment another “Rally Point” for me. Like I said before – I have a lot of “thinking” to get into words here. I believe some of these thoughts and words might be helpful to some but more importantly… a time waster when you are on the toilet! See… “Rally Point”!
I've Been Thinking 