What do you see
Dear Younger Me,
Have you seen the photo of the hourglass or two faces yet? What did you see first? What do you see now?
Life has been happening lately if you know what I mean. I refuse to believe it’s happening to me. Yes, certain things are out of my control, but no matter the circumstance I have a choice in how I respond.
I was walking the other day and reflecting about how much my life has changed in the matter of weeks. Instantly, I felt, “this is a lot.” Swiftly, I redirected my mindset to, "at least I get to deal with it all at once rather than spreading it out.”
Both are true. My circumstances did not change, but my perspective did. Like the photo I mentioned, both the hourglass and the faces exist. One might appear faster, but if you allow yourself then you will see both. What you focus on is what you’ll see and that is your choice.
I fully support seeing the whole picture from both angles. Both exist. What I caution you with is don’t fixate on what’s out of your control. If you stare too long, you will only see what you’ve glued your gaze to, grieving what you don’t have. Allow yourself to choose to see and appreciate what is there or you may lose that too.
How does this truly apply? When you move, you can focus on everything you don’t have - the walking paths you are accustomed to, access to the relationships you built, your favorite coffee shops and etc. Or you can live with appreciation for all you have experienced and not take for granted the opportunity of adventure at every corner. Instead of missing, what if you had both- paths to return to one day and new ones waiting to be found, loved ones to be intentional with distance and new ones to grow with now or gratitude for the places that made somewhere home and excitement to try something for the first time again.
You can have both. Both exist. Like the original photo in black and white. You can stare at absence or abundance. You can see void or possibility. Life doesn’t stop. Whether you play a role in the outcome or it feels like life happened to you. I urge you to take a snapshot.
Look at the big picture. What do you see? If you look from another perspective, what else is there? Today, you get to choose what you see.
Where you fix your eyes, that will be what you see.
Today, I am choosing to see the friends and family who offer unconditional love/support. I get to see the impact my job has in the lives of many. I get to make choices to build the character of who I want to be. Each day I chose consistency in building the life I want to live. I will continue to dream dreams that give me something worthwhile to chase.
Life hasn’t stopped. I will continue to choose the perspective I look at it with.
I hope you have a moment to reflect on the picture before you today.
With Love,
Older You