Vol.18 "One Love"

Dear Readers, welcome to the last "The Change Chronicle" volume of 2023.

The following text is the result of reflection, a deeply personal exercise. This is my chance to stop, look around and in the mirror at the same time.

Important note: I’m intentionally being vulnerable and exposing my inner thoughts. The topics here are authentically me. For those who may wish to exploit, point fingers, or think there is an ulterior motive to this, feel free to stop here, this is not intended for you.

Winds of Change

Autumn and Winter seasons hold a special place in my heart. They bring change on a massive scale (and what's not to love about that?). The annual cycle of transformation is well underway in my small corner of the Pacific Northwest of the continental USA.

Hello change, welcome back, I've been waiting for you.

The grand transition has begun. Warm air has turned to a chill, abundant sunshine vacated, and darkness has moved in, the embrace of togetherness has now transformed into isolating darkness (for many), the vibrant colors of the landscape are evolving into somber shades of browns and grays, the majestic trees now are now casting very long shadows, and the soft breezes of summer are now gathering strength that will soon test even the most steadfastly rooted trees.

All of these magical changes are the unmistakable signs that my local natural environment is preparing for the deep sleep of winter. This is the time of reflection, my time to remember the past, appreciate the present, and prepare and dream of the future.

Experience tells me that this is the time to rest and recharge, for soon, the magical reawakening of Spring will begin.

Reflection “One Love”

My local farm, along with its Autum traditions like “The Pumpkin Patch”, becomes a hub for hayrides, apple cider, pumpkin pie, a farmer's market, and family activities, fostering a sense of togetherness and joy.

Fun fact, my wife loves the “Punk’en Patch” with the excitement of a small child. Each October, I’m lucky enough to see her face light up and to simply live in the moment she romps through the muddy field, on the seemingly endless quest for the perfect pumpkin to proudly display on our front porch. ??

Each year, after the Halloween holiday, the leftover pumpkins are carefully (and thoughtfully) arranged into a message. The actual photo (above) captured this 2023 message on full display: "One Love."

That message became the inspiration for this final 2023 installment of “The Change Chronicle”.

For me, “One Love” represents a message of hope, patience, understanding, being open to people and their opinions, building bridges (not destroying them), compassion, understanding, and togetherness.

LinkedIn “One-Love”:

I'm genuinely grateful for each of you, my many LinkedIn subscribers, followers, and connections. Your engagement and the meaningful conversations we’ve shared are a continued source of inspiration. Our open dialogue gives me hope for humanity. I appreciate you.

I never expected that so many people would be inspired by and could ever connect so deeply (and personally) with my written words; it's truly humbling. Thank you for turning this space into something very special.

I also deeply appreciate the fact that people actually read this stuff, even though the volumes can be lengthy. Thank you for your suggestions, feedback, encouragement, comments, and even for your occasional disagreement and debate.

2023 “One-Love” Gratitude

Thank you 2023 for reminding me that life really is all about the journey.

Gratitude fills my heart for being able to experience life with its loving embrace, and with all of its complicated contrasts and contradictions.

Thank you ’23 for the abundant joy that you brought me along with its crushing sorrow, for the hope and its bitter disappointment, for the vast inspiration and solitary demotivation, for the new experiences while longing for the past, for the calm and for the turbulence, for the tears of joy and for the tears of sorrow, and for allowing me to welcome and celebrate the blessings of new life while having to saying goodbye to people I’ve lost.

'23 was another reminder that (for me) life is not about the endless (and impossible) pursuit of happiness, it's about finding happiness (even in the darkest moments). Blockers, pitfalls, and potholes and a normal part of the journey; perseverance is my chosen path forward.

Thank you for introducing me to new people, languages, and cultures. And thank you for those moments when I fell short by not showing up as my best self. Because, even in those instances, I was able to learn valuable life lessons by paying attention.

Hey ‘23, I hope you know that I appreciate everything that you threw my way.

Trust “One Love”

I’m grateful for all of the people that trusted me enough to share their deepest stories with me, both professionally and personally, and for allowing me to be their coach, mentor, and advisor.

The truth is, even though you have all shown appreciation for the work we did together, the real appreciation sits with you. You all taught me so much and made me better. I learned so much from you along the way, I am really the student; you are all my teachers.

Each of you inspired me to focus on continuous improvement. Thank you for your trust and confidence, I hold that sacred.

Thank you to the many that have been there for me (personally and professionally), for supporting me, providing feedback, and helping me.

As much as I am the first to run into a burning building and show up when needed, I too need support, "care and feeding" from time to time.

I’m grateful, to so many, who were present, simply being there to share my abundant tears of joy and during my gut-wrenching moments of sorrow. Know that I felt supported along the way with the warm embrace of your genuine caring.

2023 reminded me that paying attention, being present, and perseverance are some of my superpowers, and I still have more work to do.

Copilot & genAI “One Love”

I feel a deep sense of gratitude for being able to trust myself and embrace my curiosity about technology, especially how it intertwines with my background as a family therapist. My life journey has brought me here, to the crossroad where AI adoption meets the connection between technology and people, and it’s an exciting place to be.

I am thankful for the unwavering support of numerous individuals who have played such a vital role in bringing my Microsoft Copilot vision to life in 2023, and for enabling the success of the SoftwareOne professional services.

Thank you to the many that have all inspired me to participate in webinars, articles, and live speaking events. I’m honored and humbled by your trust and support.

I'm grateful to SoftwareOne for providing a dynamic environment (that I get to be a part of) where innovation thrives, and for fostering a collaborative environment that propels our shared vision forward.

It's amazing to see how Copilot and AI are shaping and expanding my professional endeavors. Along with leading the SoftwareOne global Adoption & Change Management practice, I'm excited to have an opportunity to continue to lean on my life and work experiences, to connect with sellers and customers, contributing to and shaping the services portfolio as a strategist.

Each day, I remind myself that, "I get to do this", I genuinely love it, and vow to never take that for granted.

The Hungry Bear “One Love”

As I further reflect on the whirlwind that was 2023, the relentless pursuit of time echoes in my thoughts like a hungry bear ceaselessly chasing me (see Vol. 17 ).

In a year that tested my resilience across personal, professional, societal, environmental, and global realms, the pace of change was a constant reminder that I really am in a race against time.

The harsh winds of change blew across my personal landscape, sometimes a light breeze, other times a destructive tornado that required me to hold on for dear life. Difficult times brought forth lessons I never signed up for, yet the choice to evolve or crumble remained uniquely mine.

In the race against time, I found strength in embracing the unfamiliar and reminded myself that sometimes, letting go was the best thing I could do. Letting the winds of change take me away made room for more growth. I leaned into my familiar patterns to stay grounded and resilient. I focused on my strengths that I’ve refined over a lifetime and are always evolving.

I would not have been able to do this without the support of so many people in my life.

Mantra “One Love”

“I pay attention to, my thoughts, feelings, actions, and the world around me and the people in it” ~Kevin

I remind myself (daily) that this way of thinking helps me learn from my experiences, connect with others, and appreciate the diversity and complexity of life.

However, I also know that these practices won’t make me perfect; being human means that I will make mistakes, I have flaws, and I will face challenges and adversity. The only things I can control are my actions and reactions. ?

I commit to picking up both the physical and metaphorical trash (that life produces), all while being chased by the hungry bear of time. I commit to continue extending a helping hand, expressing genuine kindness, recognize the good, to support people, to inspire, to learn new things, to grow, and to continue to make a difference.

The best way to close this 2023 chapter is with a quote from my favorite movie, A Knights Tale , the closing of a love letter that looks to the future - “With Hope”.

(crap, now I need to change my password challenge question ??)        

See you all in 2024!

~Kevin (aka "The Cloud Therapist")

Pro tip: This exercise felt great and is totally worth the effort. I encourage to try it for yourself. Take a moment to write down what you are grateful for and why.

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