A close friend recently lamented that she had forgotten to write a thank you note for a gift, and that wasn’t typical of her. It was a small thing, but it troubled her, because she really is quite the “Queen of Proper Protocol,” and a shining example to her grandchildren. She also suggested that a milestone birthday had been a bit “emotional,” and that she was “looking at things from all different sides these days.”
I suggested that, after all we’ve endured these past several years, we’re all “looking at things from all different sides these days,” and that’s a healthy thing to do. I personally believe that life is a constant balancing act, as we cherish certain memories and learn from past experiences, while embracing each day fully and actively planning future events. In other words, the front windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror.
A favorite Zig Ziglar quote says it best: “Learn from the past without living there, live and grow in the present, and look to the future with hope and optimism.” There’s a great deal of wisdom in that.
I shared with my friend that I had been in such a deep “funk” during the early days of the pandemic, I took to writing positive messages and words of appreciation on “Sticky notes,” and posted them all over the walls of my study. The exercise had been so helpful to me, I wrote “When Life Needs a Sticky Note… words of inspiration during challenging times,” and gave hundreds of copies away hoping that my stories might lift the spirits of others.
As I left thoughts of the pandemic behind, I moved forward by writing and publishing three more books featuring stories of inspiration, and have found great purpose in retirement by doing so. My forward focus is the fervent hope that my collections of silly stories, all based upon real life experiences, positively impact the lives of those who read them.
And my friend? She’s doing just great, thank you. She’s moved to be close to family, jettisoned a part of her business she no longer enjoys, and is focused on her involvement in meaningful activities.
My friend, Brian Dodge, once advised, “If your focus is on the past, your future will be your past.” I think it’s safe to say that my dear friend and I are convinced that the windshield is always bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason. And, while we might be “looking at things from all different sides these days,” we’re leaving the past in the past and moving forward with life, just as we should. And I’m thankful for that…
“Never let your memories be greater than your dreams.”
Doug Ivestor
