How Do You Measure a Year?
One year ago today, we got the news that Broadway was shutting down. At the time, we thought it would be few days, maybe at worst, a couple of weeks. Now, one year later, we mark the moment when life as we knew it ended and life as we know it began.
Anytime there is a milestone, it’s worth taking a moment to pause and reflect, so that we can take stock of what we’ve learned.
To be sure, we have lost a lot this year. Most importantly, lives.
We’ve also lost jobs, savings, homes, a sense of safety, identities, and so much more.
There are other things we haven’t lost, per se, but that have dramatically shifted: career paths, relationships, passions, pursuits, dreams.
And of course, there’s a lot we’ve gained as well: self awareness, knowledge, insight, moments to reflect, a clearer picture of what matters.
As we mark milestones, it’s easy to fall into the trap of only noticing one of these areas. I wonder what it looks like to take in the full scope of our experiences of the last year: the losses, the shifts, and the gains.
You might start by simply setting aside some time to write it all down, making sure you have something in each of these three categories. Then comes the most important part of any reflection process: quantifying the learnings.
I’ll bring us back to my two favorite questions in any reflection exercise.
What is your biggest aha moment?
What is your new burning question?
After you have reflected, it is time to do something with the learnings. How might you commit to putting your aha moment into action? How might you commit to seeking answers to your burning question?
We’ve all had our own unique experiences this year, but there is one truth that is universal:
If you are reading this right now, you made it through the year. You survived.
Let’s take a moment to celebrate our resilience, honor the present, and commit to building a better future.
I’m sending you all lots of love and strength. Here’s to moving forward together.