In relation to this blog and all the places I go, I was asked, “where do you get the energy?”
I thought about how to answer that question succinctly as sometimes I wonder what pushes me to go out almost everyday and find something new to see. The answer is simple yet broad.
In short, I am motivated by overcoming perceived challenges by holding myself accountable to my own commitment to find beauty in my current surroundings.
In many ways I find my original expectations of life turned upside down. I spent many years professionally turning losses to profits and inefficiencies to productivity. Basically laser focused on looking for a problem and fixing it; makes sense it’s what I do. I then realized that approach isn’t always sound or healthy on the more personal level.
Sometimes, I just needed to hear and see things differently . . . reframe my lens . . . pause and pivot and suddenly I see beyond the obvious challenge.
I am grateful for the epiphany. I see so much more than I ever saw before in my immediate surroundings.
- Did this park just open?
- Do swans fly?
- Does the moon come out every night?
- Why does a beaver make a dam?
I started the blog as it is such a fulfilling way to capture the memories both for myself and for others. Personally my father died of dementia and pictures and videos was how we promoted his presence with us even briefly.
More profoundly I hope it also conveys ways to see beyond the problems and challenges of life even briefly.
The blog in and of itself motivates me to go out and “virtually socialize” during such an unsettled time. If you are reading this you motivate me to continue.
I can’t change the world from being upside down. I can’t stop people from judging me or others, I can’t stop illness or job loss, I can’t stop prejudice or political unrest.
While I was raised to learn from history and “never forget” and ensure to lead to effectuate change, I am no longer obsessed with trying to only fix the darkness. There’s a balance to be struck.
I now allow myself the time to walk through the shadows and find the glimmer that waits to be seen. I had always rushed passed it and was focused on the problem that needed to be fixed.
I take on each new adventure as a challenge to find those opportunities to see what I hadn’t seen before and as I do, suddenly the light overcomes the shadows. Even if just briefly.
That light is my energy.
But it isn’t easy to always find the motivation. I put this blog together in hopes to make it a bit easier for others.
You are my motivation.
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Pivot and Pause in New England 