This time of year most people are spring cleaning. I don't necessarily clean differently in the spring ( those that know me know that I clean constantly), but I do like to organize my thoughts. It is this "re-birth" or "re-emergence" from the winter that gives me the motivation to get my thoughts in order and plan for the next 12 months. This time of year always gets me back to thinking about Dr. L.D. Pankey's Cross of Life. This schematic and philosophy help me organize my experiences and find where they all meet. In the center of the cross is where true happiness is found. It has given me a structure to align my actions, thoughts and feelings with my core values to help me maintain balance with in my life.
This past year has been a challenging one for me both personally and professionally. But with challenge always comes growth. I have experienced the lows of loosing a friend just after her 43rd birthday to a sudden illness that is treatable in 95% of cases. The lows of dealing with family issues and chronic illness, the lows of having to say goodbye to old co-workers who had become friends, the lows of having anxiety every day and trying to simply get out of bed in the morning. BUT - I have also experienced the highs of purchasing my own dental practice, the highs of watching my children be successful in school and sport, the highs of getting a new puppy (maybe that's a low, I am still not sure LOL),the highs of welcoming my youngest Nephew to the world, the highs of my team winning a silver medal at Eastern Regional Synchronized Skating competition, and the highs of traveling and experiencing new adventures with my family.
So, how does one reconcile experiences that are on the complete opposite sides of the spectrum and how do we move on from there? I like to organize those experiences and dissect, in true scientific form, what they did in my life and how each low helped me grow to better appreciate the highs. For instance, my friend's passing showed me that there can be much more to life, that I need to embrace every day (high or low) and count it a blessing. That I should cheer my children on in all aspects of life and to do that I need to NOT bury my head in the proverbial sand of the monotony of work. She taught me it is never too early to do the things you enjoy or tell those you love how much they mean to you. She taught me that even from a distance, people can still touch our lives and that we still influence each other. I thank Sue for that. She, along with my family and dental family have made my reason for doing what I do so clear. This appreciation for all aspects of life also helps balance out my cross and continues to reinforce the reasons I make the decisions in life that I do.
The "WHY" in our lives is the key. WHY we do anything is HOW we do everything ( a little twist on the well known quote by T. Harv Eker). The lesson I've learned this year during my spring cleaning is just that. I vow to always keep my WHY's pure and in alignment with my core values. This harmony balances out my cross and helps me see more clearly when I am not in balance.
The 2024 spring cleaning of my mind has cleared out the cobwebs of depression and anxiety and showed me that my path is clear as day. There are no more forks in the road for me. My "WHY" is so obvious that I am going to follow it. I follow my WHY to my family, friends, and profession - but above all I follow my WHY to happiness. Because As Dr.L.D.Pankey has taught us, happiness is at the intersection of love, work ,play and worship.
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