Good morning! I hope you’ve all had a safe and wonderful holiday season! It’s hard to believe 2025 is here. Seems like just yesterday we were waking up to check our computers and make sure they survived Y2K. And if you can remember that, don’t forget to take your Geritol.
A lot has changed over the past year – some good, and some not so good. When I look at the changes I’m not so happy about, I’ve had to accept the simple fact that I can’t change what was, or even what is. All any of us can change is what’s to be. And the first step in that is to back up and make the most of what is. Race car drivers have a phrase for that – “Run what you brung.”
It’s a simple way of saying make the most of your circumstances. We all have challenges, and we all have days when things aren’t going our way. But when the green flag drops, it’s time to throw the excuses out the window and get moving. Besides, more than once I’ve seen all the front runners take one another out in the final lap as the guy with the “junk” car motors past and wins the race.
How many times have you been in traffic and some hotshot races past you, weaving in and out of traffic in a desperate attempt to leave everyone else in his dust? And how many times have you arrived at the next traffic light right next to him? I just smile and wave. It beats giving them the finger, and makes me feel a whole lot better. Plus, it’s just fun.
As we start a new year, maybe it’s time to take stock of “what we brung.” I arrived in an old body that’s seriously overweight, broken and slow, and not firing on all eight cylinders. My brain is still feeling the effects of a stroke, and calling out to one of my grandkids is like a teacher taking roll call. But this is what I have to work with, and the green flag is out. Time to run or get run over.
How about you? What challenges are you facing today? Which of those challenges are you stuck with, and which ones can you change? It’s an important distinction. Acceptance isn’t the same as giving up. It’s an acknowledgment that maybe we could have arrived in better shape, but we’re still not out of the race. A couple of adjustments and minor tweaks can have us back to optimal speed.
All it takes now is to keep your eye on the prize and never give up. Fix what’s broken. Tape it up if you have to. It doesn’t have to look pretty – it just has to get the job done. As you fix those broken pieces, one at a time, you’ll find yourself moving closer and closer to the front. From there, it’s just a wild and exhilarating dash to the checkered flag.
That’s all for now. Have an awesome year!
© 2025 Dave Glardon – All rights reserved