It's Over ... And It's Just Begun!

Recently, I was asked to address some college graduates about dealing with the issues and uncertainties specific to work, and life. (Where to begin, right!?) To help keep my on track (darn that ADD), I prepared a short presentation titled, “It’s Over, and It’s Just Begun.”

While the title, at first impression, might seem somewhat glum and pessimistic, depending on your disposition of choice (like whether the clichéd cup is half-full or half-empty: me thinks both) - the emphasis was all about positive pragmatism.

When you think about it, “It’s over, and it’s just begun” isn’t just some lame, bumper-sticker catch-phrase for a one-time event like graduating from school, getting a new job, or having to start working for a living — although that certainly does apply. The fact is, almost everything that we have to do and/or deal with has a beginning and an end. No duh, right?

But really, most everything’s cyclical: School starts, school ends. Jobs start, jobs end. Companies start, they end. Relationships start, and they can end. Most profoundly of all: life begins and life ends, at least the physical form as we know it.

As the ubiquitous, encompassing sound-bite goes: “It is what it is.”

But wait. Before you think I’m being fatalistic or cavalier, I want you to know that I really do appreciate the fact that some beginnings, and endings, are much more difficult than others, requiring special appreciation and mindfulness. The more we value (in context), that things begin and end, the more we need to enjoy the here and now. If we can successfully harness what we learn through life’s beginnings, endings, and in-betweens … the better we can navigate and manage the new beginnings, endings, and in-betweens. Does that make sense?

By the way, fate and destiny have nothing to do with anything. They’re an excuse disguised as rational. After all, Darth Vader was wrong: it wasn’t Luke’s destiny to go to the dark side. Was it?

Our destiny is what we make of it. As George Eliot said, “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.” Unless we just want to give up and disappoint ourselves, and those who need and love us every time something comes to an end; or unless we’re afraid, for whatever reason, to take on new beginnings and blame it on fate or destiny — we have to understand what’s at stake. We have to discern what we have or have not, and appreciate what we could win or lose, depending on our choices. Then we need to do what we need to do; get ready, and go.

In other words, get to work.

With every new challenge, we should be better, stronger, and wiser; appreciating that work takes work, and hard work takes hard work. As an added bonus, the reward for our hard work and determination will help us know so much more in many different ways: intellectually, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Taken together - it's all about positive pragmatism.

Positive Pragmatism is Good.