NO PARKING

image by: Tyler Jamieson Moulton

Recently a friend posted on facebook that a neighboring business was taking over the parking lot including the two spaces she had reserved for her clients in front of her location. This was affecting her business. She respectfully asked that parkers not park in those two spaces yet she was met with aggression not mutual respect or understanding.

It got me thinking about my own thoughts and actions. Do I meet them with aggression? Do I park in spaces I should no longer be in? Do I stay in a cycled loop and not allow growth or transformation? Am I parking my beliefs? Am I remaining in a spot that no longer nourishes me and/or my business? Is it weird that at 60 I am asking these questions?

"At least you haven’t parked so firmly that your tires went flat!"

I first answered the last of those questions. I answered myself as I often do when in deep contemplation. Yes, you should ask these questions at 60! At least you haven’t parked so firmly that your tires went flat! I laughed giving permission to not be so hard on myself as I often am. I further reflected that to park is to dump, plunk, stick, shove, or stop. My heart took a beat, those are words I dislike immensely. I enjoy change, mixing things up in a good way, taking something old and making something beautiful from it. Why would I want to PARK in the same place on the daily? 

So I asked myself, “What’s the opposite of Park?” A visit to a Thesaurus shows Shift, Clear, Rearrange, Reposition, Switch, Unfasten, Bring Out, and Free are all opposite of Park. These words reflect who I am, one that loves opportunities and options. I thrive on opportunities and options. 

With all that inner dialogue I decided that today I plan. A new year to come. No it’s not January, heck it’s not even December yet why should that stop me or you from refocusing or simply focusing on my/your life and business. I run my business with my daughter. The care and well being of my business goes beyond me, it always has. I've always thought about those I work with first, then myself. In tough times paying them before I was paid. My business, my baby, my creation, an organism so to speak. To me it is living and breathing and my job is to nourish it. Living organisms are never stagnant. My joy is my passion. I still get excited about my work. Yet I see that I allowed myself to park.

Go wild and crazy, visit a different parking space

Today I chose to change gears and park in a different space. Maybe I’ll be wild and crazy and park in a different space every day for a month to see what life brings my way. Looking forward to seeing a new perspective.

photo credit: Filip Filkovic Philatz

I began by asking myself these questions and created a task list. I found that the answers flowed readily from my soul, it was time for me to Shift and to Clear misconceptions and Unfasten the truths and thoughts that were Stuck in Park. 

1. What and who is important to me and how can I advance my dreams that include them?

2. What is my vision and why is it important?

3. What lights me up?

4. Focus, focus, focus

5. Determine the system.

6. Who can help me achieve my vision?

7. How I can streamline and not work hard but smart.

Are you Parking in the same spot every day and not allowing yourself to shift and experience new perspectives?