The other day, I contemplated a change in course with a friend- ruminated rather than contemplated is really more accurate. After a series of compassionate replies, my friend asked- "Is this where you pictured things a quarter of a century ago and is this where you want to be in another quarter?" I was, well, in a word stunned. The question brought on the reality and weight of each decision- and of how I consider each decision today with more gravity than I did back then as a new mother of one amazing baby trying to pursue a career as a Psychologist, trying to do it all. I realized that back then, I rarely had time to even think 25 minutes ahead let along 25 years- it was a step at a time, a day at a time- make that an hour at a time due to time constraints and multiple hats!

The question- Is this where you pictured things a quarter of a century ago and is this where you want to be in another quarter?- for me that is jaw-dropping. And while I have, in the past, posed that same question to others, it hit me this time in the heart which is just the right spot.

I realized that I had been operating on that same time clock as the 25 year old- thinking each day was precious, getting that more than back then, realizing any moment could be my last- but still, come on- still thinking of myself as boundless energy with endless time. So I stopped and thought about 25 years forward- and that in 25 years, I would, no matter how great medical technology became at extending life, probably not have the luxury of asking this question to myself or to my friend. I realized that in 25 years, I would instead be looking back at myself today and considering the choices I had made that landed me wherever I was.

Where did I want to be when I was looking back at today's choices? And where did I not want to be? Whether it was how I pictured my health, my emotional well-being, my family including my four amazing daughters- what did I want to create over the next quarter century? And how did each decision - or lack of- impact that?

And so I have started to reconsider time and decisions and each day I start with questions that, to some, might seem sobering but that, from my lens, set me free to create and contribute to the vision I now have of 2033:

Where do I want to be in 2003- physically, mentally, spiritually, interpersonally, and in physical space?
How does this choice I am making in this moment impact my vision of 2033 and where I want to be?
What other choices and decisions do I want to make?
What do I want to do or not do TODAY to forward myself on the journey toward my desired destination?

For me, these questions are like a personal navigation system- like Tom Tom- they enable me to counter the old Mainer mantra 'you can't get there from here'. And they honour where I am, accept the 'as is' and create a destination vision that picks me up when I get blindsided or field one of life's curve balls.

Assuming you are old enough to have a quarter of a century behind you that you can recall with some amount of clarity, what do you see? What kind of person were you 25years ago- what goals did you reach for and what dreams did you pursue? How did you picture your life 25 years ago when you looked forward to 25 years from then- to this day? If there is a match between what you dreamed and where you are, then great and congrats! If there is not a match or it is only slight, then that's great too- you have hurdled some curve balls of life and are here today to create the picture for the next 25 quarter of a century.

Now fast forward to 2033 and consider these questions:
Where do I want to be in 2003- physically, mentally, spiritually, interpersonally, and in physical space?
How does this choice I am making in this moment impact my vision of 2033 and where I want to be?
What other choices and decisions do I want to make?
What do I want to do or not do TODAY to forward myself on the journey toward my desired destination?

1983- that seems like yesterday to me after a quarter century of raising four amazing women and other hurdles and joys.

In 2033, the year of 2008 will seem like it took only a nanosecond to get there too.

I am going to choose my destination, set my sights, punch it into my personal GPS navigation system and go for it. And, just like Mapquest or Tom Tom, remember there is always Plan B- you can choose an alternate route should the tolls extracted be too high a price to pay or should you choose the scenic route, you can decide not to take the highway even while choosing the high road.

Looking forward,
Pam