A New Day

Do not say "It is morning," and dismiss it with a name of yesterday. See it for the first time as a newborn child that has no name. - Rabindranath Tagore

Every day is a fresh start. We learn something new, perhaps meet someone new who will change our lives in some way, increase our knowledge or help us grow. As the day dawns we can bring all that newness to the table and build on it. When we greet the day with the problems of yesterday and the “what was” we create blockages to what’s possible and the “what may be-s” We do the same with people.

History seems to get in the way. Why is that? Why do we allow memories of a hurt come back to affect us profoundly all over again when that person is no longer in the equation? Is there comfort in reliving past hurts? It’s completely outside my understanding.

When we do the same in the workplace we’re not allowing trust in. We can’t rebuild it and create strong working relationships if our expectations of an individual are all bad. You get what you expect. Expect the best and speak to their best and that’s what you’ll get. Speak to weaknesses and negativity and you’ll get that as well.

There’s a story I love which illustrates fresh starts and leaving past problems where they belong….in the past. It’s called ‘The Trouble Tree’. You might have heard it but I think it’s worth a second visit…

“I hired a carpenter to help me restore an old farmhouse. He had just finished a rough first day on the job: a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, the electric saw quit and now his ancient pickup refused to start. While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving, he invited me to meet his family.

As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands.

When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.

Afterwards he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again."

"Funny thing is," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick "em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before." - Author Unknown.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if, the next day you could forget to pick up past troubles altogether and treat the new day as just that….a time to be open to all the possibilities that will come if you open your mind and heart to letting them in.

Best…
Donna Karlin

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