Fall is my favorite time to begin working on what I want for the coming year. But when I am swamped EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. by brand-new, uniquely devastating national and world events, it's easy to put off planning, like it's silly or naive. Forget it, I'll just lie down and watch Ted Lasso — mainline the hope.
But don't forget, as crushing as the warmongering and fearmongering is, we, as a people, are incredibly powerful when we are united and focused on things that matter.
So tell me, what matters to you today?
What do you want in the coming year? Why do you want that?
What's in your way?
And critically, who does it serve besides you?
Wind and Sails
I was speaking on 10-year-planning at an event on Sunday, when I decided I had to mention that some credible folks think AI might kill us in that time.
I wanted to be honest about it because what good does it do to pretend our challenges aren't stout? I'd rather adapt to conditions and emerge from them stronger, than bury my head.
It requires discipline though, not to collapse; to keep casting vision and grabbing onto it with both hands, no matter what the world is doing.
Here are two things to keep in mind.
Thing #1 - There will always be things outside our control: AI threats, Elections, Climate Change, the hurricane that's headed for my town Friday. I have some influence in these areas, but control? No way.
Thing #2 - There will always be things within our control. The vision we cast. The belief in our ability to weather storms. Our aim. Our care for others. How much we practice hitting the targets we set.
If that's true, and I believe it is, then we can still dream up big ideas, work them backward into plans, and practice every day, even if it's comin' a storm.
That's the difference between complaining about the wind and adjusting your sails.
Early Voting Begins October 19th
And the November 3rd midterms are one of those things I can influence only slightly, but have massive impact on me. That's a frustrating equation. But when ALL OF US head to the polls, EARLY, blocking the calendar, making long, snaky lines around our polling places, we are collectively adjusting our sails and that changes our collective trajectory.
The scheisters know it too, which is why they're messing with voting rights. And history demonstrates that certain characters may do shocking and damaging things should they dislike the outcome of November 3rd. Perhaps that's a storm that will require adjustment to our sails too.
So what?
Adjust them.
Prepare.
And keep your eyes on 2027. We may spend a few days with bare poles, but then, we unfurl and catch the wind again. Take care of your fellow sailors along the way.
This is how we get stronger.
So what does your soul want in 2027?
I believe there's something unique that only you can bring. You'll find a lot satisfaction in deciding what that is and figuring out how to do it.
And you don't have to wait until January 1st to start, in fact I wish you wouldn't. Start now. Get honest about what you want and why you want it. Then start working backward, breaking it down into tiny steps.
And don't forget to vote on November 3rd or earlier starting October 19th.
Have a great week.
xoerin
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