Is your flame still bright?

Sometimes we meet people who turn into friends and stay with you through all the journeys of life.? It is only when they remind you of things gone by that you pause and think: oh my, we have been through so much together.? I thought this on Friday night as I had tortillas with two of my dearest friends - “my people” I refer to them.?

As I was waxing sorrowfully at a circumstance in my life, one of them refused to accept my position of victim.? He reminded me of things I have done and the fighting spirit I’ve had.? I whispered “I’m exhausted – it gets tiring fighting all the time”? and he remarked: “Rest.? Then get up and fight again”.? He said more and the more he said, the quieter I became.? More out of the realization that he probably was correct in a lot of things.

It was a tough conversation: ?He was tough, but kind.? Strong, but compassionate. Unaccepting, but understanding.? He momentarily mistook my silence for displeasure, when really it was just me being in stunned silence at the realization of the truth of what he said.

In life, no one wants to accept that some spark or some fire has been lost and that they are merely embers of a former strong flame.?

At this point, I know I have choices to make.? Knowing each choice has consequences.? It is only future me, who will know how things turn out, but as I take a moment to shift my perspective and re-design what the future me will reflect on, I look at now and review the decisions I’ve taken to get me where I am today.

It is daunting to look back, but what I tell my coaching clients is that sometimes it is okay to think “what if I picked the blue box instead – what did I learn from it and given the choice again, would I choose different?”

The next few days and weeks will be me refocusing my attention, working to shift my perspective and clearly defining what the future me would want to look like.

What I’m certain of, is the flame is still there.? It just needs rekindling.? This is my burning platform today.? What is yours?

Ps: it really is a coincidence that today’s article speaks to flame on the weekend of the festival of lights.? My friend celebrates Diwali and so I say to him and those else who celebrate: Wishing you a Shubh Diwali filled with good fortune, health, wealth and joy to all.