Will the Eclipse Bring Darkness or Light?

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​ ​dog​s ​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