Turn the Page

Turn the Page-by Sal Celly

You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore”, William Faulkner so wisely said. Life teaches us…. sometimes, the lesson is painful, costly and one we’d like to turn back the clock on…and wish that it had never happened…. unfortunately, you and I both know, that we cannot undo the past….no matter how hard we try…. we cannot put back the milk, that has spilt on the floor…the mess has already been made.

What we can, however, do….is move on-live in the moment, in the now and not harp about what happened-why it happened, and if only, I had done it differently. What makes this very difficult at times, is that the people closest to us, keep bringing up the past to prove a point…. or to win an argument or to show that you were wrong and how badly you had screwed up. Yes, you did screw up…yes, you made a mistake, but you know what…. you don’t need to be hung for that…. we all make mistakes, sometimes with the best intentions in mind-that doesn’t mean that you stop trying or that you stop pushing for that extra inch, that extra step…. that one shot, one opportunity. If you stop trying, and stop experimenting, because you don’t want to take a wrong step or sing out of tune, then you stop learning, you stop living…you stop growing. For those “well-wishers” and “advisors” out there who keep pulling you back to your mistakes… they will continue to do what they do…. you must continue to do, what you must do- and that’s ok. Difference is ok- perfect conformance is an exception to the rule- to expect anything different, is to set yourself up for failure and disappointment. You cannot change others, only yourself. Focus on what you can control and leave the rest….it will take care of itself- you don’t have to have all the answers.

The right approach to past failures is to learn from them and to move on. Don’t sweat the past and the small stuff- don’t focus and prioritize on the Urgent instead of the Important. Life has a way to make us re-prioritize our focus and attention- The University of Hard Knocks (UHK). Do your bit, take the classes and learn, because UHK teaches a great lesson…. many lessons, for the many different phases of our life and for the many difficult curve balls that we will have to face and attempt to hit out of the park. To move forward quickly and effectively, you must stop looking in the rear-view mirror. You don’t stop walking on the road, because of hit and run’s… you don’t stop flying in airplanes, because of air crashes. You and I must continue to live…. don’t just exist, live……because you were meant to. Sometimes, all entrepreneurs and change agents have is the strength of their convictions and beliefs, despite what everyone around them says and thinks….

When you let go of the old and create space for the new, be patient. You have feelings, emotions and perspectives that need to be factored into the equation. Give yourself time to adjust to your new reality. As Mother Teresa said, “Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” In closing, if you have it in you, feel strongly about it and are willing to swim for it and lose sight of the shore, I have only one piece of advice for you- Go for it. Just Do It. Good things will happen- Rome was not built in a day.