‘Shift’ Happens

I shared the beginning of this article some time ago. At the time I was discussing how to handle those things that happen and are not found to be positive. I was talking about those things that could be traumatic and have a long-term negative effect on our lives. This time, I’m turning it around to talk of great things that can happen if we are open to events we had never expected and certainly not planned on. That is what has happened to me in the last year. Have you heard this quote from a John Lennon song? “Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.” I love this because it is so amazingly real! I know it has been for me. I’ve had my life figured out. In fact, I’ve had it figured out several times. As those of you who have been reading my articles know, for the last few years, my focus has been on building my own business—a business for which I had, and still have great passion. However, this past summer, I became involved in the election for Mayor of Saratoga Springs. I did this as I love my adopted city and want the best for it and I believed that now Mayor Yepsen was the best choice. As I’ve always said: There is always a choice. And, I made the choice to put my energy into helping her get elected. This was the first step in the “shift” in my life, as I put my business on the back burner to give my full energy to this effort. I had fully expected to return to my life, as I’d known it, in November right after the election. Then, another option was presented. I have been given the honor to continue working with Mayor Yepsen. While I do love my business and the message I share with others through this business, this job with the Mayor is likely a once in a lifetime opportunity. That brings us, or in this case me, back to my favorite topic—choices! I’ve chosen to grab this opportunity. I’ve chosen to work in my beloved adopted city with a mayor I believe will do wonderful things for this city. I consider this an honor and I look forward to the continued journey of supporting her in her vision and gaining new experiences. As I’ve stressed in many of my articles, I know I can do just about anything (that has been shown to me as I took on a role that I’d never attempted before), yet I know I can’t do everything well, if I’m trying to do it all at once. So, for now, at least until I get my feet under me in this new role, I will suspend my articles. I will miss writing to you every month though perhaps when this experience is over, I’ll have a new book to write. I encourage you all to keep you mind open to new experiences, as I’ve done. You just never know what great opportunities are around the bend.