Layers

Today I am sharing a column that will be published in a couple of newsletters shortly.

 Inventing Your Life

“Layers”

BY

Rob Claudio

When you think about what transpires within our lives during the course of a year, one just has to marvel at how much can take place along with the growth that came from each unique experience.  All of us grow towards being older and wiser with the passing of time and as the years progress, we hope to have also imparted some of our knowledge to others by way of the legacy we left behind.  Ideally we would like to see that our added years of life are getting us closer to being more of who we were meant to be.  One of my favorite ways to look at my own personal growth is to recall my younger years when I had many aspirations along with hopes and dreams of where I would be by the time I got to be a certain age.  As I think back to the dreams of my youth, I can recall having a fancy car, a large home with a swimming pool and being able to purchase what I wanted without thinking about the cost as part of my ideal goals. Then as I look at my life now, I find that my list of expectations have little to do with the materialistic items that my younger self wanted.  In observing what is happening in the world right now, I see great beauty in many places and people, while at the same time I see chaos and strife which can be conflicting to behold all at once.  It is difficult to accept sometimes that we as a people could not have moved our world more quickly to a better place by now, especially with the number of struggles that you see still occurring.  Therefore my hopes and dreams at this point have turned to those of living a more simplistic life that is filled primarily with the purpose of abundant inner peace.  As I think about the contributions that I make in this world, I feel even more interested in how I can help others that may need assistance.  I have learned that although we may be in a place at times where we require aid from others, there will always be people who are more in need than we are.  Not putting ourselves first and having gratitude for the many things that have created a bountiful life, from a personal perspective, have shown me what is of greater value at the end of each day and passing year.  My belief is also that my growth is similar to others, in that we as adults are living a life that is more in tune with what we really want for the remainder of our years on this earth.  Therefore, it is my continued hope that as we evolve through the coming years ahead, the layers that make up who we are keep peeling away to get us closer to the core of who we were truly meant to be. In addition, we would all be better served by leaving all of those other layers that no longer serve us in the past where they belong.  If you think about layers in those terms, think about how having more of them can weigh you down and as you eliminate them, you feel lighter and less bogged down.  As the year ahead carries new things for us to learn with lessons and other dynamic activity, we can also contemplate walking with a lighter step as we leave old issues, worries and items that have no more value in our distant past.  We should strive to be purposeful with good intentions while we walk towards our ideal goals.  In addition, remember to be helpful to others around you, as those actions can yield great results for people in need, while it bestows upon you a feeling of peaceful content.  Layers like those of a beautiful blooming flower, when they are shed, can showcase a more vibrant and amazing creation which can transform a life from ordinary to remarkable.    

Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told:

“I am with you kid.  Let’s go.”

-Maya Angelou

Emerging Growth

I was passing by some pine trees the other day after a wintry storm had just moved out of the area.  I noticed that among these very large trees that have been there for quite some time, there was new growth springing from the bottoms and sides of the trees.  It made me marvel at the fact that although age has its impact of time, there are new things that can flourish from that which could be considered old.  I always look for the opportunity when nature can teach me a lesson or just remind me sometimes about the parallels that it holds equal to our own lives.  It was an enlightening moment for me and also a happy one, as I knew that similar to where we happen to be on our life's journey, we can expect to have new growth at different intervals.  For some, it could mean going back to obtain new education via schooling or training, which can bring that new chapter filled with possibilities.  For others, it may mean that you have come to a conclusion in a relationship that no longer bears any fruit and as a result a decision to move on, although uncomfortable at first, may yield a new invigorating period ahead.  Many people around the globe after experiencing the New Year, make resolutions as well and chief among them are the one's related to better health or achieving financial stability.  Although I like resolutions, for they make people state something out loud that they want to change about themselves, they tend to lose momentum for many if the person was not resolved to make the necessary adjustments to help achieve their goal.  That is why I believe for change to occur, that anything that is stated must be followed by a written word, as it gives deeper meaning to the well intended consequences.  None of us are immune from having had those resolutions that were not achieved, which is why it makes better sense to approach your life shifts with a different perspective.  Consider altering your way of being and adapting new methodology that will aid in your arrival to your desired destination.  Say it, write it and tell someone close to you what your goals are, so that not only do you create an environment that is expecting to change, you are also helping yourself in being accountable towards your actions.  There is nothing like having someone that you trust or is close to you, to remind you about the path you wish to take at different stages.  That is why I would also suggest that you pick the right person to hold you accountable, so that your trust and confidence in them is not an issue if they need to remind you at some point.  I also like to think of change as constant, where you do not need a new year to go by to give you the impetus to create a new dynamic.  You may want to adjust your own thinking as it pertains your journey forward in the coming months, by giving yourself a realistic timeline that includes how much you would have liked to achieve and by when.  Altering your perspective to incorporate changes may not always go smoothly in the beginning, however, given what you may gain from your pursuit will hopefully tilt the scale in the right direction for you.  As you proceed with the ensuing year of 2015 ahead, remember how trees that have been here longer than us, have the capacity for new growth and that age is not a factor.  Similar to our majestic sapling reminders among us, we can also experience improvements and prosperity if we put forth the effort and create the right environment for this to occur.