Reset Without Regret

Dr. Gethsemane Moss, Ed.D.

It's Not Too Late, and You Aren't Too Old.

January inspires ideas about change and a fresh start, with promises and resolutions to make the year better and brighter than the previous. What promises have you made to yourself that you have yet to accomplish? How hopeful do you feel about resetting your life? Depending on who you ask, the answer may differ based on their life journey. For some, a fresh start may be all about health or financial security, and for others, it may be about a career change. In most cases, we can take control and decide on the changes we incorporate, but sometimes we find ourselves with no other option but to adapt.

On Friday, November 5, 2021, two Benicia High School graduates attended the Travis Scott Astroworld concert in Houston, Texas. While the two best friends looked forward to an exciting, fun-filled trip, including meeting members of the band Earth, Wind, and Fire, some tragic events took place that Friday night, resulting in injuries and, unfortunately, loss of life. The two best friends found themselves on the ground during the concert, fighting to breathe. The good news is that the two made it out and safely home. During that moment of chaos, the two were committed to surviving and recall it being one of the scariest times of their lives. Fight or flight kicked in, and they were determined to survive.

Sometimes it takes a life-changing moment to realize and remember the hopes and dreams we have in our lives, and sometimes rattling experiences help us recognize the importance of setting goals and resetting when we must. When faced with monumental life changes, we can go with it, resetting and walking a different path, or we can give up. Making no decision is still a decision. Travis Scott

The proverb “time waits for no one" reminds us of the importance of time. While it may feel like there is a lot of time to accomplish the hopes, goals, and dreams for life, everything can potentially change in the blink of an eye. You may be someone who had plans fresh out of high school, such as going to college or learning a trade, joining the military, starting a business, or working for someone, supporting their dreams. Thirty years have passed before you know it, and the goals you may have had appear obsolete. Sometimes our dreams take a back seat as we take on new life responsibilities. Then we ask ourselves, what happened to my life? Did I fail to plan? So, when January rolls around, as it does every year, we set new goals and remember making ourselves a priority once again.

The good news is that it's not too late for a fresh start. Examples of people who found success later in life include Harland Sanders, also known as Colonel Sanders, who founded Kentucky Fried Chicken at age 65. Ray Kroc, at 52, was instrumental in creating the McDonalds franchise. And Laura Ingalls Wilder published her first book of the Little House on the Prairie series at age 65. Researchers who study the mind and human behavior will say that a shift in our thinking and determination makes the difference. We must believe that all things are possible for our lives and listen to our hope and goal-setting narratives. We are the only ones who can decide what is best for our lives.

We can encourage each other to believe in something more significant for our lives. The two best friends from Benicia High School had each other when tragedy struck, enabling them to help one another find the courage and strength they needed to survive, bringing them closer together for another fresh start of friendship and life. Allow yourself grace, belief, and opportunity for 2022.

"We must believe that all things are possible for our lives and listen to our hope and goal-setting narratives. We are the only ones who can decide what is best for our lives."