Spectrum Connection: July 2020
From the desk of Dave Smalley: The Journey
Never has it been more evident than now that life is definitely a journey. The highs, the lows, the triumphs, the setbacks, are all a part of life. I am partial to the milestones in life such as births, marriage, adventures, family moments, friend moments, and the occasional seemingly miracles. Those milestones make me smile, make me happy, evoke emotionally good memories.
One of the interesting and wonderful things about us, as humans, is that we can recreate those positive moments. What we can’t do is recreate pain. We can’t look back and recreate the pain of a broken bone, or a mom giving birth, or even muscle fatigue from a challenging run or a tough gym workout. Nope, we can’t recreate how those feel. Our minds and bodies just won’t let us. Heck, we can’t even recreate a past heartache. But seemingly magically, those good memories…those we can feel all over again. The journey. The journey of life.
On this journey, I have to admit that I didn’t see this current detour on any road map. I have questioned my GPS multiple times, thinking something must be haywire. But each time I learn that yes, this pandemic is part of our journey. A part we will be able to remember, maybe learn from, but it will not be something we can recreate or feel again. When it is over, it will be over.
We must stay in the moment. We must be present in this journey. We must savor the by-product of our time at home; family moments, personal accomplishments, learning new things, enjoying what is offered to us. Celebrate the little wins of our day-to-day accomplishments. We don’t have to simply focus on “the day after the Coronavirus” as there are so many great things to focus on each day. We have the Champion’s mentality, and Champions embrace the journey. We can enjoy each day, each moment, for what it has to offer.
Our continued success depends on enjoying the journey and finding the light in each moment. The best part of the journey is that we have each other. So, let’s go out there and embrace the day. Accept the challenges for what they are and focus on our daily ‘wins’. On this journey, we are exponentially stronger together than apart, even if together means 6 feet apart. WE GOT THIS…
With Admiration and Respect,
Dave Smalley
From the desk of Melanie Smalley.
July. Just over the halfway mark of 2020. Perhaps you feel like I do – bring on 2021, please!! 2020 doesn’t seem to be doing us, and so many others, any favors. Surely 2021 will be more promising, at least that is my prayer.
The following article really resonates with me during this time. “Learning to Wait” is hard – it can be really hard. The hope is that the wait is worth the reward.
I hope that you’ll enjoy the article and find a personal take away that resonates with you. Please know, from my heart, you’re ALL in my prayers and thoughts…every…single…day.
Sending heartfelt love, Melanie
From the desk of Melanie Smalley Continued: Learning to Wait
You might remember comedian Yakov Smirnoff. When he first came to the United States from Russia, he was not prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores. He says, “On my first shopping trip, I saw powdered milk – you just add water and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice – you just add water and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to myself, “What a country!”
I know what he means. I once saw a novelty item – it was a can of dehydrated water. The instructions read: Open can. Just add water.
We live in a world that craves instant gratification; instant satisfaction. Just add water. Ready to eat. Cooks in one minute. No need to wait.
One old story tells of a judge who questioned the defendant. “What are you charged with?” he asked.
“Doing my Christmas shopping early,” replied the man.
“That’s no offense,” said the judge. “How early were you doing this shopping?” “Before the store opened.”
Few of us will go to those extremes to satisfy our desire to “get it now,” but we know what we want, and we wish we could have it yesterday. We don’t like to wait.
Yet waiting is a discipline we have to learn if we’re to be happy. Whether we learn to delay gratification or simply learn to be patient, we can’t live well without learning to wait.
There is certainly a place for decisiveness and action, but there is also a place for patience. Have you learned when to wait?
Wait for guidance…learn to be still.
Wait for wisdom…it will come with experience. Wait for growth…it happens in the fullness of time. Wait for the sunrise…there will be another day.
Wait and be contented…it is a secret to inner peace.
There is a time to act, but there is also a time to wait. Learn to tell what time it is – great things can happen for those who learn to wait. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it well: “Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.”
— Steve Goodier
