The 4th - Punt or Go For It?

Rumblings in the 4th

Is it just me or does the 4^th quarter of the year tend to have a fair amount of upheaval in the air?  I thought back about the last 5+ years, and without fail, there were significant events in my life in the 4^th quarter each year.  I started seeing Jamie, my counselor, in October of 2006.  That was a huge life changer.  My Mom died in the month of November.  I started a relationship in October of one year, and it ended one year later in October.  I changed jobs 5.5 years ago in December and now have current job ending this month.  The beginnings of my book were in October of 2008, and the book officially went online on Amazon at the end of September/early October.  In the last week alone, four couples I know are having significant relationship challenges.  Jeez, what’s next?

The 4^th quarter is just a busy time of the year.  We are trying to wind down a calendar year, there are two major holidays, property and school taxes rear their ugly head, an amount of concern comes with finding the money for the latest toys for Christmas, and families get together for holidays, which can sometimes bring up issues from the past. 

For me, I also have rodeo events ramping up a lot; the Ren Fest is rolling, my annual NYC trip, and just a lot of other activities.  I have also noticed my emotions seem to go on high alert for all the reasons listed in the first paragraph.  I know I also tend to miss my Mom a little more than usual when I get around the family gatherings, as there are just reminders and flashbacks of how much she liked the holidays.  There is just a lot going on.  A few years ago, I would dread the 4^th quarter as I knew (or so I thought at the time) there would be “stuff” to deal with all around me. By dreading the 4^th, that meant I was concentrating on those things, which meant I was attracting that energy to me.  If I thought it would be stressful and uneasy, it would be stressful and uneasy.  I have since changed my thinking and realize there will always be “stuff” regardless of the time of the year.  There could just as easily be rumblings in the 2^nd quarter rather than the 4^th.  I accept the rumblings in life as just part of it.  I also know I control the volume knob on those rumblings. 

It comes back again to one of my favorite quotes.

“You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.” - Unknown

Rodney - What! Me Worry?