Flicker of Hope
As the details of the tragedy in Aurora, CO come to our attention, I can’t help but blog about it. At first, we can’t believe something so horrific could happen, then we grapple for an explanation, and finally we look for a flicker of hope. We heard about the man who shielded his girlfriend, sacrificing his life to save hers. We heard of soldiers who never saw the battlefield, but were gunned down in this movie theatre - a theatre that serves as a refuge of sorts – someplace we go to forget reality for a while. On CNN, we see family members provide a glimpse of what made their lost loved ones special. We see victims’ lives encapsulated in 30 seconds between the latest press release and a hard commercial break. Where is that flicker of hope?
The obvious is that life is precious and we never know when our time will come. We should love and care for each other. How can we fret over the price of gasoline or whether we will be passed up for that promotion? Life is bigger and more meaningful than this. Yes, all of that comes to mind; I have the urge to go deeper. As an action-oriented person, I can’t languish in front of the television or hash over it in the coffee shop. That’s not enough. So, what then?
Living in the Moment
It is so cliché and you know from my résumé blogs, I hate clichés! This is important though. Being truly present with those in your life…at work, home, and in the community…is a gift. You experience life more fully…you are actually participating instead of planning what’s next or worrying needlessly.
You Don’t Always Get a Second Chance
In every aspect of our lives, we procrastinate and make assumptions. These things left unresolved can bring distress, problems, or worry. Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today. This may be unfinished work or a call not made. It may be that job search you have been meaning to launch. Don’t hold back on saying what you mean - if it means sharing your feelings or complimenting your staff on a fine job….share those thoughts.
The Pursuit of Happiness
I love that Thomas Jefferson included the “pursuit of happiness” in our Declaration of Independence. Indeed, we all should pursue happiness with gusto and without delay. Along the way, let’s make the lives of others happy too. The little things we do on a daily basis provide that flicker of hope to others. We often don’t even know the impact of our kindness on others.
Although this is a career blog, thank you for joining me to reflect. Next time we will return to our subject of building a meaningful career. Until then, let’s kindle that flicker of hope and happiness. It is not enough, but it is a start. I share my sincere condolences to all of those affected by this heartbreaking tragedy.