2023 — a dumpster fire, or maybe something else...

in

“Well it’s 2023”

“Same ol’”

“It’s a year of opportunity and possibility”

“I suppose that is one way to look at it”

And then shortly after that conversation, I was talking to someone I work with on a regular basis and she suggested this year was going to be like a dumpster fire, and to emphasize her point, sent me a colourful emoji — I countered by suggesting this will be a year of opportunity and she went on to point out I was always very optimistic. It wasn’t hard to find an urban chic laissez faire bitmoji illustrating the dumpster fire, so maybe people are onto something.

The urban dictionary defines a dumpster fire as 1. A complete disaster and 2. Something very difficult that nobody wants to deal with — and although 2023 has barely started, and we don’t know how it will turn out, the working impression is it’s going to be difficult (aka Dumpster fire). Less than two weeks in and we’re already setting the tone: best to just hunker down, ride it out, don’t do anything crazy, and maybe 2024 will be better.

Or you could see 2023 for what it, simply an opportunity — which is defined as an occasion or situation that makes it possible to do something that you want to do or have to do, or the possibility of doing something.

Dumpster fire 2023 — do nothing and watch it burn (have a soda and listen to the influencers about how bad it is and to be afraid; they know best)

Opportunity 2023 — do something and take advantage of the possibility (less influencer time offers more time to get the things done they said you wouldn’t be able to)

In the end, I suppose it’s just about perspective — and that’s on you.

iamgpe

365 (and a bit) days to make stuff happen...

in

Social media feeds are filled with the anticipation of a new year and all the best wishes that come with it — it’s the time of the year to reflect and dream and resolve to do better in the upcoming year. The calendar is reset, and we enter a new year fresh with endless possibilities — we are given another twelve new months to make stuff happen.

To everyone, great success with making stuff happen in 2023 — better yet, great success with making the hard stuff happen in 2023.

Well there you go, I’ve done my part by wishing you a happy and successful new year; an easy proposition if ever there was one. The rest is now on you (and me I suppose because I know people have wished me a happy and successful new year).

This does feel so very familiar and there is an imperative somewhere in all of this. Oh right, it’s my new year so it’s only fair that I’m the one to make it happen.

Good thing I have done this New Year Thing before and can reflect on what has worked before and look at what hasn’t worked as “growth opportunities”; although if memory serves me, there are no guarantees what worked before will work again so I better stay sharp. Where is that list of reminders again?

  • Have goals (plans, resolutions, wants, desires, objectives) and at least get them scribbled down on a napkin.

  • Work fuckin’ hard.

  • When your plans go south (and this happens a lot) you cannot quit — you must keep your wits about you and find a way.

  • Cherish your relationships and give more than you take.

  • Whining is OK when it gets hard, but keep it to a minimum, and keep going until you’re finished doing what needs to get done. (a personal favourite)

Well, that’s all I’ve got. Do have a safe and healthy 2023, and let me know if I can ever help.

iamgpe

The evolution of what motivates...

in

I recently set up my new workspace and decided to unpack some boxes I had labelled office eight years ago — long enough to be as much different as I am the same. Time is funny that way.

Some of what I found came in handy, some went into the garbage reflecting a new definition of utility, and three motivational wall hangings received a reprieve from their confinement.

Dream your tomorrow

Believe in your dreams

Keep calm and carry on

I am not sure why I chose these sayings back then — did they really resonate with me or did I just have lots of wall space that needed to be covered? I’m leaning to the latter, for no other reason than they just don’t offer much in the way of motivation anymore. As I look at the words, I find them trite, and although there is a place for vision (and vision boards), I find them soft. I do realize Keep Calm and Carry On is a reminder regarding how to deal with bombs that are literally being dropped on your head, but I would suggest that these words have been turned into a merchandiser’s dream and lost any original meaning, and most definitely the character that lies behind it.

As I look through a different lens, I find my resurrected motivators are soft and without character to actually make things happen… and maybe that is it.

My lesson coming out of the pandemic is movement really matters — both literally and figuratively. It is how you develop the ability to get through things and with it, develop knowledge, strength, grit, and the ability keep your wits about you. And the more difficult the better!

Because Easy doesn’t change you

Comfort Kills

Work harder, nobody cares

Prepare for the unknown

Sure, these are also somewhat trite and can definitely be found on t-shirts in your Instagram feed, but they do reinforce that success and growth only happen when it’s hard and you have to put in the work.

This can not be found in dreams.

I will admit all of this is half baked and something I pondered the other day when I got a little nostalgic — and in the end, maybe just the evolution of the words I look to motivate me. But as an aside, if you have found that your dreams have come true, you’re comfortable and everything is easy-peasy, I wish you luck and there is no need to explain.

I understand. I just don’t care...*

… I have work to do.

iamgpe

*— this definitely came from a t-shirt which some of my friends will be receiving for Christmas.