Reassessing and Reinventing

I remember returning to the platform tennis court for the first time after the Christmas break and saying to my friend Heather I forgot how much I enjoyed running after a little yellow ball. Only after a respite did I notice how much pleasure I received  from being in the fresh winter air and getting my heart rate up. The time away from the sport allowed me to clearly reassess—I loved playing platform tennis. It gave me joy.

I remember not playing any golf for the entire month of August and then signing up to play in the club championship for 9-holers.When I walked into the ladies locker room after the first round I found myself in the middle of a controversy. The rules of the championship stated that participants must play with the same person at the same time for the two week tournament. But one of the women—who was a lawyer-- unexpectedly had to play at an earlier time the next week  so that she could get to an important meeting. The woman found herself on the brink of disqualification. One of the committee  leaders attempted to resolve the issue by saying we have rules for a reason. And if we do not adhere to the rules then we are nothing more than a bunch of women playing golf on a Wednesday morning. I remembered thinking hmm isn’t that what we are—just a bunch of women playing golf on a Wednesday morning? And the month away from playing golf coupled with the controversy allowed me to clearly reassess---I really didn’t like playing golf very much.

The running theme last week was crossroads. It seemed that everyone I found myself in conversation with was reassessing or reinventing. Through either design or circumstance people stepped back. They rechecked the mathematics of their career choices, relationships, dwelling places and even eyeglass prescriptions and saw that it did not add up. So they began an early spring cleaning--an opportunity to start fresh.

Sometimes the best thing that can happen to you is to find yourself on the outside looking in. Stepping back allows you to see value (or not) from your labor. Sometimes time away clarifies things. And whether it is a sport or a relationship or a career, stepping back lends an unencumbered view. And the new view avails a new direction. Your myopia can be remedied. You are not obligated to your choices. Things can change—and change is good.