My New Perspective

Every time I walk to and from shul, I pass by this tree.  Last week, as I was walking home from shul, I was taken by the power and strength of the tree and noticed how beautifully it leans toward the sky. I wondered why after 10 years of passing by this tree, on this day, it made me stop and say, "Wow."

Almost four weeks ago, I began a new job that I love.  I was promoted to a new position and now weeks later, I am finding that this organization I have worked so hard for these past 8 years (and 5 years before that with a 3 year break), looks slightly different.  I am taking what I know and looking at it with a new perspective.  It is exhilarating, refreshing and my brain is bursting with ideas.  

As I was preparing for a presentation, I used this photo to illustrate the point that my experience allows me the comfort of walking right in with no fear and using that same experience to bring a new set of eyes to this area of the organization.

Trees could be symbols for so much.  Today, it represents my hope to balance a solid foundation plus reaching high to accomplish big goals.  I have a plaque in my office that was given to me from a friend that reads, "Think Big, Dream Big."  Seeing this tree reminds me that dreams take time and we need to nurture those seeds of change and inspiration in order to reap the benefits of what is to come. 

Enjoy my tree.

What Are Your Guiding Words?

"Trust yourself.  Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life.  Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement." 

--Golda Meir

This is one of the quotes that I used during a staff retreat this past week.  It was one of many that I included in two vision boards.  My goal was to give my colleagues a new perspective and offer words to wisdom from heroes all of whom had made an extraordinary difference in the world.

Throughout the week, I spoke with several younger staff and realized that I am, to them, the older generation.  Twenty years ago, when I started in this field, I looked up to my older colleagues as mentors and teachers.  They had done incredible work and the lessons they taught me I still use today.  Now I find myself in the role of teacher and as my mentors did for me, I hope to guide, inspire, and bring out the best in those around me.

In her quote, Golda Meir said, "Trust yourself."  I wish I learned this earlier, but I got it now - the strength in being 50.  She goes onto say, "Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life."  I believe this takes a lifetime of learning to continually integrate your values into our days, years and as life happens to us, we hold onto those values to help us through our trauma, crises, and those moments on shaky ground.

And my favorite part of the quote, "Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement."  Try.  Take those moments of letting yourself dream big and think big and know that the possibility is a probability.  The past five years I have redirected my energy to lead me to what I want and stay away from the voices that remind me of what is missing in my life.  It was the greatest fix to what I saw as the problems in my life.  And now, as Golda Meir said, I listen to those tiny sparks and nurture them so that I can create, feel productive in our community and know my purpose in the world.

What is your favorite quote and how does it help you in your daily life.