It Couldn’t Be Done…
As is now an annual tradition (since this is the 2nd consecutive year, which clearly makes it tradition), I am taking the time to reflect on the past year of my life and pass along some of the greatest lessons I have learned. As with most things in life, some of the greatest lessons learned are simply reminders of what we have known since childhood, but they finally come to fruition later in life.
This past year was filled with ups and downs, some “firsts” and some “never agains”, and I’ll save those for another time. But one of the experiences I had that is worth sharing was winning a contest to get a custom tailored, bespoke suit. It was a really fun experience, and I don’t know if I will ever be able to go back to store bought suits (not that I wear them that often). I never thought much about it, but now that I have my own, it is definitely worth it.
I digress…
Today marks my 36th trip around the sun. On one hand, I see that number and think I have a long way to go and a lot left to do. On the other hand, I wonder where the time has gone. As a wise friend once told me, the days can be long, but the years are always short.
So, with that in mind, here are my top 3 lessons from the past year.
#1: Good relationships matter more than anything else.
Throughout life, people come and go. Its inevitable. We work hard to meet people that we connect with, whether its in our personal or professional life, and we want that hard work of creating great relationships to stick around as long as possible. However, life changes, jobs change, and people change, for better or worse. When that happens, we have the option to work for those relationships, or let them fade into the distance. In some cases, we need to let certain relationships fade away, and if we are honest with ourselves, we all know which relationships those are. My advice (for what its worth): cut ties quickly, but gently.
But there are other relationships in life that need to be nurtured or rekindled. Historically, I have been bad about keeping up with both personal and professional friends and colleagues. I recently had the chance to sit down and have a long conversation with an old trusted friend that I have not talked to in several years. It reminded me of the importance of those trusted relationships and how much they can do for our soul as we go through life. At times in life, we need to rely on people we are close to for any number of reasons. The harder we work to create deep, meaningful relationships, the harder we need to work to keep those relationships healthy.
#2: Take care of your body and it will take care of you.
When I was a child, you could not keep me indoors. I was constantly running around the neighborhood planning sports, riding bikes, and staying active. I played competitive sports throughout high school, and was a multi-sport intramural all-star in college. Then I joined the professional world and the mindset to stay active went away cold turkey. When I was in my 20s, it was no big deal. I continued to eat and drink whatever I wanted with no regard for its effects, because I wasn’t seeing or feeling any effects of poor choices with regards to my health. Then, I turned 30. I began to notice aches where there were no aches before, I had to go up a size on my pants, and I looked in the mirror and saw someone that was starting to look a little different.
This went on for several years until one day, I decided I could take back control of my body. The aches had gotten worse, the waist had gotten tighter on the already larger pant size, and I was not happy with the reflection in the mirror. To add to it, I was coming off the busiest year of work that I had ever experienced, and didn’t think there was anything I could do about it.
Then, in January of 2017, I decided to go to the gym down the street from my house for the first time in a long time. I didn’t want to, but I made it inside the door of the gym and got a surge of energy just being there. Got in a good workout, and felt pretty good afterward. So for the rest of 2017, I figured out how to fit in time at the gym, coupled with a relatively strict healthy diet. I didn’t follow any diet book or regimented workout program, but I was as consistent as possible. And the results were incredible. I lost 20+ pounds of unwanted weight and put on 5–10 pounds of positive weight. I felt pretty good about the progress.
Then 2018 rolled around and I let my success from 2017 get to my head. I put in about half the effort and noticed a negative change. I got sloppy with my healthy eating, didn’t work as hard in the gym, and skipped more times than I should have. But I am happy to say that I am back on track and realize more than ever that the effort is worth it. I have not once had regret when I eat a healthy meal or take time to go to the gym. Energy is better, motivation is higher, and I generally feel better throughout the day. If there is one thing I have seen first hand to be true, take care of your body and it will take care of you.
#3: Don’t ever say “It couldn’t be done”.
I know that age 40 is officially “over the hill”, but for some reason I feel like leaving behind 35 and entering my 36th year is a turning point. It feels like there is a new trajectory that I am on. Though I will never stop learning, and have a lot left to figure out, I am on the other side of the fence. I have been doing more teaching than learning lately, which is an unexpected surprise. While I love to pass down the knowledge and experience that I have been able to gain over the years, I know I have a lot left to do that I use to think couldn’t be done.
At one point, the world seemed to be in a box- there were things you can do, and things you can’t. Through some of the relationships I have been able to create with people ranging from independent freelancers I work with all the way up to multi-billionaire business men and women, I have finally realized that whatever it is, it can be done. The road may be long and hard, but the key is to start NOW and never look back. Whatever the thing you want to do, just get to it.
I will leave you with this poem that I was introduced to by my friend Al Bell a few years ago. If you know his story, you will know that he is a true inspiration for doing what they said could not be done.
It Couldn’t Be Done
By Edgar GuestSomebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed: “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it.
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.
