New Beginnings, Letting Go & Moving On

Once upon a summertime, I had one of the best jobs ever.

As a tour escort in the Canadian Rockies, my job was to accompany a group of about 20 guests on a 10-day road trip from Calgary, Alberta westward, through and around the mountains, eventually ending in Vancouver B.C.

In addition to experiencing some of the most magnificent scenery in the world and some of the finest five-star resorts imaginable, I learned about some fascinating quirks of nature.

One such oddity is the lodgepole pine. It’s one of the first trees to regenerate after a wildfire. Its cones are protected by a seal of pitch that requires fire or heat to release the seeds. Historically, the mature trunks of these trees served as the frames for indigenous people’s teepees and lodges.

Hence the name: lodgepole pine.

New Beginnings: New Ways of Doing Things

It seems to me that major crises like the recent COVID-19 pandemic can bring about similar results for us that wildfires do for lodgepole pines. Released from the safety of our seemingly secure comfort zones, most of us were forced to find new ways of doing things.

For example, think of the many creative ways in which so many seemingly ordinary people helped and supported others. From producing ear savers for face masks to organizing Zoom meetings, there was a reassuring flow of random acts of kindness generated by the COVID-19 crisis.

And what about the thousands of businesses that have retooled or shifted their focus to support the fight against the coronavirus?

To put a contemporary spin on the story of the lodgepole pine, it’s almost as if the universe hit the reboot button, forcing all but essential systems to shut down.

Even the least technological savvy users recognize the value of rebooting a computer, phone or other electronic device.

How many people do you know who now socialize over Zoom instead of coffee?

And what about all that food and other things that pre-COVID, we had to leave our homes to find, buy and carry home that are now delivered at the click of an Order Now button on our mobile devices?

But it’s not just major crises that can trigger new beginnings.

What about those smaller, sometimes unnoticed messes or changes that might be a sign of a new beginning … if only we were aware of them?

For example, as a result of intentional mindfulness, I have learned that whenever I have a dream that just makes no sense whatsoever, some kind of resolution or clarification–i.e. a new beginning–takes place.

And sometimes, just a single comment that I’ve heard or read can trigger a wild and crazy thought process that quite often leads to a new beginning.

Eternal optimist that I am, it seems to me that life continues to present situations that represent new opportunities for new beginnings. Hopefully, the content that follows will help you make the most of whatever new opportunities may come your way.

Letting Go, Moving On

Among the major benefits of rebooting an electronic system is to eliminate issues such as mysterious glitches, malware, spyware, viruses and other problems. Once these factors have been removed, we can get on with using the system more effectively and productively.

The post COVID-19 reboot and recovery can generate similar benefits. What better time to let go of those factors that no longer serve us?

Perhaps some familiar ways of doing things have outlived their usefulness. Or maybe one or more specific services are no longer profitable. It’s also possible that the time has come to end those marketing practices that do little more than waste time, energy and money.

By letting go of those elements that don’t or won’t contribute to your ultimate success, you can make better use of your limited resources.

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