Where Are You Going? Finding Success By Sue Dickinson
January is the time of year when most people think about their past, plan for their future, and set goals and resolutions to get it done. While people don’t really realize it, all of these plans and schemes actually begin many months before January in our subconscious thoughts. Well, this New Year is a strange one for me. Many of the goals I had for 2004 have been changed dramatically in the past three months as my husband and I found out that we will be having a new baby next summer. And, while I always knew that another family member was a possibility, I can’t lie and say that my subconscious plans for my future included the additional commitment and responsibility that would be required of me.
My mind adjusted quickly to the news, although not quite as quickly as my husband’s. I told him I thought it was possible on a Monday night at 6:00 p.m., and by 8:00 p.m. he was naming the baby and planning the first ski outing. But, although I was fully committed and excited about the new family member coming our way, I wasn’t prepared for the one-two punch of the first trimester of pregnancy.
With my son, I was six years younger and had about half the responsibilities I do now. Still, I selfishly thought the morning sickness I experienced then was “bad.” Boy did I have a lesson to learn! For the past two and a half months, I would have been grateful for “morning” sickness. What I experienced was “all day all night” sickness. Together with a bad case of mud head” and fatigue that sent me to bed many nights before my five-year-old, most of my goals and plans before becoming pregnant were swept under the carpet - - and to be honest I didn’t even care much!
With January comes new hope, however, as I slip from the first trimester into the second. Although I was foolishly hoping that all those symptoms would miraculously disappear when the correct date on the calendar was reached, I am sensing a return at times of the “old Sue.” Sadly, on most days that just means I am noticing everything I want to do and can’t, but there are other, more lucid times when I realize that this is a temporary storm. I’m comforted by something I’d heard Nancy Reagan say once:“ A woman is like a teabag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.” And I hope against hope that I will prove to be one of the strong ones!
This morning on the way to work, I was listening to a tape by Zig Ziglar. In this tape, he was discussing how people reach success. According to Zig, it doesn’t matter in the least where youarein life. What matters is where you aregoing. In other words, a man may be doing nothing but cutting lawns for a living, but if in his mind he isgoingto be the owner of his own lawn and landscaping business, he has an incredible chance of success. In fact, suggests Zig, it is extremely important for us to always be grateful for where we are, right now and right here, because that is the starting line for where we are going.
Zig’s words gave me some hope and encouragement that I especially needed today. I realized that although today I ama tired, sick, mud headed, pregnant woman with too much to do and no energy to do it, tomorrow I amgoingto be the mother of another wonderful child, with family, friends and work that I love to do, and the power to create the energy I need to get it all done. And there’s plenty to be grateful for today, here and now, whether I remember it all the time or not!
We all experience storms to be weathered at some time or other in our lives. Maybe it is a physical storm, or maybe you are having mental battles over your ability to achieve your dreams. Maybe someone you love is struggling or there is just too much change going on in your life right now. Whatever the storm, remember, you are only at the starting line. What matters isn’t where you are today, but where you are going. Pick a destination you love and you can be proud of. Keep your eyes on the finish line, even during the tough parts when you don’t seem to be making any progress. At the same time, remember all you have to be grateful for today – here and now. You are at the starting line of a wonderful journey to where you are going! I’ll see you there!
