Perpetual Reflections

Recently, I was leading a celebration to recognize individuals who were either resigning to pursue new personal and professional goals and those who made the decision to retire, eager and excited to start the next chapter of their lives. As I began to call the room to attention and make my opening remarks, I couldn’t help but to pause and appreciate the combined number of years they had contributed, the number of people in attendance and the hum of reminiscence as they witnessed them step into “what’s next?”.

The gratitude and humility that poured out of each of their speeches, the impactful moments that defined their journey to that point, the realization that within the blink of an eye, they had all went from “Day 1” to achieving their own profound milestones, filled the room with a broad landscape of emotions. It was a refreshingly authentic moment, pure, and filled with love. While those in attendance were excited to witness their longtime colleagues moving on, they all had one question in common. What’s next?

Prior to getting in front of everyone to proclaim their fondest memories and deliver their heartfelt goodbyes they all spent time wrestling with the decision to make that change. Naively, many people act as if they have been guaranteed to live long enough to accomplish the big checklist (Career, Family, Home, Travel, etc.) and become so conditioned with the notion that the concept of retiring or making a career change is something that’s close, yet always just a little out of reach. We deprioritize that notion because when we’re young, it’s a lifetime away. Conversely, when we are unfulfilled or discourse within the job market or a life obstacle arises, we are quickly thrust into a scramble to realign and keep the lights on with minimal adverse impact.

It was interesting to see how undefined or fluid their responses were. To have such a sense of freedom can be such an intoxicating, anxious and exciting time. As the title suggests, we are in motion at all times; Whether we want to be or not. The particles of sand continue to fall within our individual “hourglass” regardless of our initiative, self-discipline, passions or obstacles. We must always remember how precious time truly is; For this is our only true currency.

We are also reminded of our mortality as we begin to accumulate the promotions, the perfect partner, and/or those moments that make us question our heading. In the modern age, we’ve lost contact with this concept. We’re uber focused on the long game that even as we step through our routines each day, we really aren’t as present as we should be. We also accumulate regret for having to finance and budget our life force to juggle these competing priorities. This is sobering regardless of the stage or phase of life in which you currently reside.

Be humbled each day to have achieved what you have at the moment you read this passage. Be grateful for the mistakes, the lessons learned and who you’ve become as a result. You are given the privilege to maintain or change your life each morning that you arise. Don’t let them run out. Let the people that matter to you know it, invest in people, pass along your wisdom, chase the dreams that keep you up at night; Don’t let fear keep you from the life you deserve.

To the individuals we sent off, it was an honor to have had the privilege to lead their celebration. I wish you all the best with whatever is next. I appreciate what I was able to learn from you both personally and professionally. I hope that in our time as colleagues I was able to impart something of equal value. Embrace all that comes from this life as a student of the experience. And never forget, time is running out.