Digging deep while reflecting on the year
As 2020 draws close to the end of the year don’t be too quick to wish it away.
The impact of this year I am sure will play out for years to come and, even though how we have experienced it might still be unclear, like anything, when we look back we can reflect and move forward taking with us some key learnings.
Your perception today may become altered as time passes. It may change tomorrow, or next month, or even next year, or perhaps not at all but, if we don’t think about it, we will never know what we think or believe - or more importantly what things may impact us to change the course of the original perception.
Your experience is exactly that – yours. And the lenses through which you see these experiences can only come from you. Take stock of things that come to mind. Reflect or recall on various moments and see exactly where you find yourself when it comes to your state of mind, your health, your career, etc..
Like various things in life, it is about One moment in time. A point of crystallisation.
Start by asking yourself the following questions:
Have I gained anything through the steps that I have walked?
What visions have left an imprint on my mind?
Have I become more aware of the choice and use of language?
In the darkness of the unknown, have I seen the fear and then been able to walk through it?
In the silence, have I been able to appreciate the sound of quietness?
Here are some of the moments I captured throughout 2020, my perception, reflection, and learnings:
March 13th a flight back from Perth – trepidation and fear amongst passengers – some showed compassion and patience whilst others stepped into “segregation” mode.
March 21st, I lost my father – sadness and sorrow beyond words but grateful to the hospital staff for accommodating us as a family to say goodbye, despite Covid lockdown.
The next 4 months, whilst work opportunities shifted – it was exactly that. Large scale projects were put on hold enabling other smaller work opportunities to come about.
No flights, no lounges, no hotels, but that meant that I could be home with family and to help my mother recover, relocate, and begin a different life without my father.
Working from home, meant that my daughter’s work as a disability carer was disrupted, but she was able to be at home to support me.
Working from home for my son meant he could help with all the lifting – mum to bed, lounge, bathroom.
The slowing of pace and the silence of the noise allowed me to reflect and re-focus on the End Goal. The small measured steps to be refined and more attention given to the things that I value most … People!
When we take the time to stop – at times it may give rise to things that are in front of us. I am sure that as time continues to pass, my lenses of what I have experienced will change – some with more positive light and others with a heavy heart.
Life, work, and everything in between is a journey. But if we do not take the opportunity to record, to ask ourselves what we are experiencing, we have no gauge. This is when the voice of others begins to create or reframe our experiences, and the reason why you need to take the time to do it for yourself.
Ask yourself those questions and be prepared to dig deep to find out what it means for you.