“you got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.” – the gambler, kenny rogers
i’m admittedly loyal. i’ve driven the same car to the same job for 15 years. been talking to the same friend nearly everyday since high school. i’m a creature of habit, yet somehow i thrive in chaos. i do welcome change, however. i think i adjust pretty smoothly. no need dwelling on what was when what will be presents itself full of promise. of course i think things through, but when i leave a thing, it’s not shady calculation. it’s preparation that met an opportunity to grow. and growth requires a hope for what’s to come. the bible says in philippians, “but one thing i do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.” you’ve learned somethings and upward is the goal. if you’re lucky, you’ve deepened your understanding about yourself – what you want, what you need, what you will and won’t accept. people are included in this. those associations, even friendships that have grown obscure or stagnant should be addressed. a friend said recently that someone he knows is more of a liability than an asset in his life. i handed him some champagne and we talked. he updated me last week that he’s moved on.
it might be hard, but it’s okay to part ways from people, networks, things that no longer advance you. let that stale stuff go. it’s draining. you’ll always have the memories – good and not so. and remember, life is a boomerang, the real ones come back. look around, what’s thickening in your life?