View From the Back of the Room

 I wrote this one 11 years ago, and it popped up on my memories tab this morning. Thought I would run it again.

August 18th marked a big change in my life.  Well, my rodeo volunteer life to be exact.  For 10 consecutive years, I was in some committee management position and running either part of or the entire committee.  The management team is called The Front Table and is comprised of the Chairman, Vice Chairmen and Committee Coordinators.  For 10 years, the Front Table was my home, but I was in a different place last night.  I was in the back of the room listening rather than the front talking.  There was a nice calm about it, and it showed according the comments I received from various committee members.   There was also the common question, "Do you miss it, Rod?"  The answer each time was no.  I loved having the various positions and my 10 years up front, but it was time for a change for both me and the committee. 

The committee structure, direction, goals, objectives, and management team have been revamped.  Typically, that much change does not sit well with people as it is our nature to resist change.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear positive feedback rather than complaining and commenting about, how we used to do it.  As with any part of life, it is so easy to stay in the loop of, how we used to do it as there is a level of comfort with the known way.  I've found that comfort can lead to complacency or stagnation.  If you are comfortable to the point that everything feels routine, how can you grow and expand?  You can't!

Change is necessary and starts with sometimes just a change of view.  If you find yourself thinking your job or life is boring as nothing ever changes, change your view.  Switch the sides of the bed you sleep on, rearrange the furniture, move the phone from the left to the right side of the desk, or change your exercise routine by using different machines at the gym.  Heck, I've lived in the same neighborhood for12 years and am still finding new things. Whether your view is from the front or the back of the room, change it.  There are all sorts of new things to learn and experience.  Go find something new today and tell me about it.  I like hearing about different views.