The eclipse of 2017 is coming and it has taken over the imaginations of people all across America.
For me this is simply a demonstration of physics and gravity that will cause darkness, lasting maybe 30 minutes. The good news is that scientists can calculate where, when, and how long thisdarkness will last.
Too bad life does not have more predictability. Like the eclipse, we all have and will continue to experience dark times in our lives. We will be filled with questions. Will they be a distraction that is discussed for a few minutes over the water cooler? Can they be more severe like a life event that can severely impact our quality and quantity of life here?
Do our personal eclipses fall somewhere in between these two boundaries?
How do you deal with big issues in your life? Do you blame others? Do you take responsibility for the forces that contributed to the event?
So often I see people playing the “blame” card. Why? It is easier to blame circumstances or events than honestly admit to our part in oureclipse event. I am not talking about a sport activity or other casual experiences. I am talking about a big pile of horse manure event. Do you seek strength from a higher power? Friends?
Is pride a demon that dogs you regularly?
What is your work/life balance? Do you truly account for time with your family and off the cellphone tether? I turn my cell off most weekends. It is amazing, the world functions just fine without me.
Are your children about to leave the nest? Starting a new phase, be it kindergarten, highschool, college, a new job, a recent marriages, babies?
Prioritizing and allocating your one non-recoverable resource- time- is critical to balance.
I have known business owners who have slept in their office for weeks to assure the launch of a new product.
That time does not come back for recycling.
Is your time invested in relevant activities? How much do you put into relationship building? It drives me nuts when people shift to shallow and safe topics, especially when that person may be carrying around a big burden of pain.
Try to be a bit more sensitive to those who matter to you. Tired, or distracted, it is hard to focus. Rested and rejuvenated, we can pick up subtle changes.
This eclipse will pass with some attention at the moment of occurrence. Who will be there next week, next month, next year? Ask those that count on you, “how is it with your soul?” The answer might surprise you and eclipse the pat answer of “fine.”
-Ron Schutz, author
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