2020 has been a year unlike any other–but I don’t need to tell you that. So much has happened that has made us stop and change our routines, our jobs, our lives and our way of thinking. Here are just some of the big things:

If I had more time, then surely I would be able to do this and that… How many times have you heard that? And how many times have you said it also, trying to convince yourself?

In a world full of bad news, we may feel overwhelmed by all that needs to be improved. The climate changes, the ocean pollution, the racism, people starving, the migrants, the terrorism, the pandemic…

One of the most exciting times throughout parenthood would have to be when your child first learns to both walk and talk. The walking part is especially rewarding, after having to witness all the times your child would get up and make an attempt to walk, only to fall flat on their face. To see them succeed, after all their effort, all their tears, all the pain, and all their failures, sure brings a smile to your face, and even a little proud smirk of accomplishment on the child's face also. We were once in the same boat as our children, stumbling, tumbling, falling over and hurting ourselves, whilst our own parents watched on. We wouldn't exactly remember those days, nor all the times we tried and failed over again, attempting to walk, ride our bike, climb, or maybe skate, nor would we remember all the times we hurt ourselves, and ended up in tears. Yet here we stand today, showcasing the skills and abilities we learned for ourselves as a child, walking, talking, climbing, riding, jumping, skating, and other such accomplishments. Most of us never even take a moment to reflect on exactly what we did accomplish as a child, but instead, we take for granted what a blessing it actually is to be able to walk, talk, run, ride, swim, cycle, and the like, because sadly, there are many individuals around the world who don't have such privileges. It's interesting that some of the most motivated, inspirational, and talented individuals, are those who are actually physically impaired. Despite their restrictions and impairments, their resolve, determination, and attitude, is extremely admirable.

Ending anything in life hurts. Whether it’s a job, a marriage, a friendship or anything else that doesn’t have any benefit in your life. BUT...when you end something and it hurts way TOO much, it’s time to re-evaluate and assess the situation. When the crying and feeling of loss outweigh the relief and freedom you are supposed to feel, maybe a mistake was made. Time to re-think the decision. Ask yourself the questions that maybe you didn’t ask before. Maybe you think you thought everything through and had your mind made up. You were strong in your conviction and knew what had to be done and then something changed. Maybe that ‘something’ was as simple as a word or a look. Maybe it was a feeling that crept up on you and caught you off guard. Maybe it was just a gut feeling. No matter what it was (or was not) now you are left in limbo, totally confused and unsure of what to do next.

2020. Year of global pandemic and lockdown. A period that will be studied by future generations as the year that the world paused. The year when life as we knew it – as we all knew it, regardless of race, creed or colour - suddenly halted. If the world were a dissected tree trunk, the year 2020 would appear in stark contrast to those preceding – it would be an odd shape, a strange colour, a visual anomaly that would clearly mark a cataclysmic event in the world’s history.

Will you become the greatest version of yourself or the version that touches the widest audience and makes the most money? The first is the artist you hear about who works tirelessly on mastering their craft. I picture them in an NYC loft apartment in an industrial area that a friend of theirs has let them use to go all out. The only thing that exists for them is the present moment, the process, the grind. The other is a creator who creates for an audience, they want to please and entertain and they usually crave the recognition that goes with it. 

Yesterday, I paired up all of the socks that were unpaired in my sock draw :) and my thought process went like this... Why did I not do this from the beginning straight after I’d purchased them? For months I've been digging around in my sock draw, trying to find matching socks in my room that’s not always well lit. They’re all single black socks mixed up and they’re not identical in design! These bamboo socks of various sorts were on offer at an outlet store, and I needed to make sure they were all my size. So, with a mix of stitching and sowing patterns, and a mass of black bamboo cloth, the penny dropped yesterday??? Why do any of us do any of the things that we do when it just doesn’t add up? :)

Is it true that money really is the root of all evil? The answer to that question is "no", it certainly isn't the root of all evil, because money can actually provide the most wonderful of blessings, rewards, and help, to all of us, in life. It's interesting to hear that statement thrown around though, because funnily enough, it doesn't truly capture the complete message of what was written in the Bible, as people seem to believe, not entirely anyway. There's no denying these words are indeed written for everyone to see, however if we actually refer to 1 Timothy 6:10, in which we find this phrase, we will quickly see a whole different meaning to this message. The actual phrase reads "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil." It completely changes the complexion about the phrase, just with those four words added to the beginning; "for the love of". You see, it's not money that is the root of all evil, it's humankind's love, desire, and desperation for it. As I mentioned, money can be used for a plethora of options to better our lives, and the lives of others, however the problem is that too many of us are possessed by it, and we fail to use it for the greater good, but instead to satisfy our own greed and selfishness. Whether physically possessing it, or just hungering for it, what a great majority of people would either do, or currently do, is either keep it entirely for themselves, spend it on luxury items, or spend it on material things. Meanwhile, across the globe, we continue seeing an ever increasing trend of poverty and homelessness.

We all have a one day, looked at yourselves and thought we aren't good enough for society. Instead we bottle ourselves up. Most of us know that feeling. It isn't our fault, it's the society we all live in.

“True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future, not to amuse ourselves with either hopes or fears but to rest satisfied with what we have, which is sufficient, for he that is so wants nothing. The greatest blessings of mankind are within us and within our reach. A wise man is content with his lot, whatever it may be, without wishing for what he has not.” - Seneca

During my independent study of leadership over the past 34 years, I have come across many definitions of leadership. If this is a subject you study, or a subject that interests you, I am positive you have had similar findings.