Beginning
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
Image Credit @mattlavasseur
There are feelings of adventure, excitement, and unimagined possibilities when thinking about the beginning of a trip, a new project, a new relationship, a new job, or a new year.
Beginnings can also elicit fear of past failures, challenges, or difficulties. The beginning of anything might be experienced as something to look forward to eagerly or something to be dreaded.
We have a choice how we view a beginning. The beginning of a hike in deep, snow-covered woods might elicit anxiety about losing the trail and becoming lost. Or it might evoke a sense of adventure and appreciation for the beauty of a winter day. The beginning of 2021 might elicit exhaustion and despair from coping with the pandemic and the constant changes and losses of the previous year. Or it could produce optimism that the worst will soon be over. The beginning of chemo, radiation therapy, or a new drug might elicit feelings of dread and fear. Or it could produce hopefulness and a sense of control now that treatment has started.
In Western culture, the Chinese word for “crisis” is frequently but incorrectly said to be written with two Chinese characters signifying “danger” and “opportunity.” Wikipedia informs us that a more accurate interpretation is that the second character means something more like a “change point” or a crucial moment when something begins to change. A crisis can be a critical turning point, bursting with danger but providing opportunities to do things differently.
The typical response to danger or a crisis is to stay and fight or to run away. Either coping style can be appropriate in a given circumstance. What is more important is recognizing that a crisis provides the opportunity for a new beginning, to reflect and reevaluate if we take the time and have the courage.
I learned to pivot when playing basketball in high school – keeping one foot in place while holding the ball and moving the other foot in another direction. Susan, our Executive Director, often refers to 2020 as a pivot point and a time when the world changed. I like seeing 2020 as a pivot point – keeping one foot in place – staying grounded (and remembering who I am) while looking toward the “change point” and evaluating what needs to be changed going forward.
Life is all about choices. I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, but I do believe in choices. I can choose to be negative (I’ll get lost in the woods; I can’t go through chemo), or pivot toward positivity (What a beautiful snowy day; I’ve got this).
There can be a crucial moment when something begins to change with every crisis, every feeling of despair, and every scary moment; I will look for that moment within the crisis, find what needs to end, and seek out the beginning that needs to happen. What is most important is that I’m not alone. I know others who have found their way, survived broken relationships and endured medical challenges, and now they are the guides for the journey through the snow-covered woods.
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