This morning and this evening, I was very intentional to "watch" the sunrise and sunset. (It snowed today. Although I have the pleasure of seeing many fantastical sunrises and sunsets, today was not one of those days.) But, I wanted to mark the dawn of a new day and a new decade both physically and symbolically.
Observing the cycle of another day symbolizes the renewal and rejuvenation process that is so important as we reflect and ponder our personal progress. It's far too easy to let one day blend into the next or even one decade into the next decade. Time can seem to blur when we are not intentional about our progress. We take it for granted that we will always have another tomorrow. And that is a mistake.
Marcus Aurelius wrote that "You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think."
"Memento Mori" is a Latin phrase which translates to "remember that you will die." It's an ancient philosophical concept that dates back to the age of Socrates. It is not about being depressed and thinking about your mortality all of the time. It's more about treating life as a gift and thinking of time as being a precious resource. We should live our lives with purpose and meaning.
"Let us prepare our minds as if we'd come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life's books each day...The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time." --Seneca
In the stillness and dark of the early morning, I reflected on both my personal and professional journeys.
I chose GROWTH for my one word as the year 2016 began. I blogged about it here.
The video about watering the Chinese Bamboo was inspiring then and still is today. I certainly feel like I've been "watering the bamboo" for the last five years.
Although I've grown personally and professionally in many ways, I am mindful of how much more I need to grow and learn. In many respects, I still feel like a novice. I am trying to improve my skills and character every day. Some days I feel more successful than others. However, I keep picking myself up and keep going despite the challenges that come my way. I feel stronger and more prepared for the future than I have in a long time. That's a great feeling to have as we start another day and a new decade.
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