Back To The Future
Processing What Was and Creating What's Next
Funny, thinking back in all these, it’s always been reflection based - what’s happened in the past. Rarely about what I will be doing.
Suppose it’s a bit easier to write (or rewrite) something that’s already happened.
Writing about the future there’s a confidence ( or carefree-ness) needed to put it out there and create your own fan fiction of what’s to come.
I’ve had some examples of it show up very positively in my life - especially the past year.
First, back to Christmas two years ago and I had felt my routine of coming home to Ottawa had the same variables for the past decade or so.
Heading to Montreal or Toronto with a stop over in Switzerland and then making way to my parents.
Planes, trains and automobiles.
These detours were by design, especially since direct flights to Europe from Ottawa halted at the pandemic and have only returned this past year thanks to Air France. They became the norm with stops and friends along the way.
On that trip home that Christmas I was headed to the pub to see my friend Andre who lives in Vancouver. And my mom said “Why don’t you go to Vancouver for a visit on one of your trips home?”
And I was like “Ya, good idea. Why not!?”
So I left home that Christmas saying to myself...
“You know what, next time I come home I am going to do something new on the way in or out.”
I didn’t act on it but a few months later I got a ping for a gig in NYC and voila, last summer I got to spend a week in NYC.
My first time in almost two decades. And now I just want to go again non-stop.
Fast forward some that to this past Christmas. I created a few products for my consulting practice and put it out there on Linkedin saying:
“Hey. Here’s my thinking and what I have created. I’d love to offer this in the new year to a new client.”
And voila, what happened...
“Hey Jamie. I am a friend of so and so who liked your post. We are in need of some help and your post resonated with me. Free for a chat in the new year?”
That then turned into an 8 week project and a trip to Norway.
Oh and how could I forget the time I tweeted…
And then got there within 4 weeks.
I need a bit more of this energy right now.
From goal setting and leadership development to spiritual practice, you can find a lot of evidence out there for writing out what it is you want to do or experience.
It’s not necessarily what goes on the keys or the paper, but the conviction and commitment to the idea that becomes focus and cemented in the mind. You start moving towards it - consciously and subconsciously.
I don’t think these pieces of writing will become forecasts for what’s to come in my life. But maybe there should be a bit more:
“Here’s what I am gonna go do next...”
This post came to mind on a recent work trip to the UAE.
Many years ago I spent some time in the Gulf and Middle East and this was my first trip back in a long time.
Similarly to my New York experience last summer, I felt a bit of a loop bringing me back and forward at the same time.
Hmmm.
Happy summer from Skåne. It’s Canada next.
Jamie
Fascinating as always!!! “Carefree-ness”… love it:)