So here we are at the end of another year when the global pandemic has extended “The Great Pause” longer than any of us could have imagined. It’s a great time to sit down and to intentionally take stock of how your life is going and to count your blessings. Despite any setbacks and challenges in your life that may have occurred in 2021, you have the choice to believe in your heart and soul that the best is yet to come for you.
I know that sounds easier said than done, which is why you must be intentional if this column is going to be relevant to you and yours.
On Saturday afternoon I joined a State College contingent that attended the “celebration of life” service of Penn State alumnus Greg Myford in Grove City. Greg was the associate athletic director for business relations and communications at Penn State from 2004 to 2013 where he had a lot to do with starting Beaver Stadium’s “White Out” tradition. He was a great colleague and friend who at the age of 58 was taken from us too soon by cancer. The genuine outpouring of love for him from family, friends and colleagues was heart-warming and inspiring. Those of us fortunate to know and be positively impacted by Greg will miss him dearly, and while I mourn his passing, I choose to celebrate a life well lived.
Greg was the epitome of a servant leader and in his amazing athletic career he worked in executive roles for the Detroit Pistons, Tampa Bay Lightning, Penn State, IMG Sports (working with Florida schools including Florida State), and finally as the athletic director at the University of Alaska – Anchorage. He was the eternal optimist who never lost his cool. He was also a devoted Christian who was very sincere and authentic with his faith. Shortly before he passed away, he told his wonderful daughters, Madeline and Miranda, that he had led an amazing life and was at peace. He passionately believed that he would be joining his father in heaven and that “the best is yet to come.”
What a great attitude to have. You cannot change the past, as what’s done is done. You can however learn from it and let it inspire or motivate you to “do you” better than ever. No regrets. For those of you who worry incessantly about things outside your control, I offer the advice of French philosopher Michel de Montaigne, who said, “My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.”
You get to choose your attitude and you will be far better off with a positive outlook. Hey, even if things don’t always work out the way you want, remember this: “Life always gives you another chance. It’s called tomorrow.” While I am sad at the number of friends and family who have passed away or dealt with tragedy or illness in the last 12 months, I am committed to remembering and focusing on the good times with them. I will also try my best to assist those who are still dealing with setbacks to help them to have a better 2022.
Last week I had the honor of teaching for the second time “Communication Strategy for Leaders,” an executive education course offered by Penn State’s Smeal College of Business. I am fortunate to present alongside amazing colleagues such as fellow instructors Andy Gustafson, Charlene Zietsma and Smeal Assistant Dean Rick Ayers. The program is organized by the director of Penn State Executive Programs, Sandy Clemmer, and our amazing coordinator of program materialsm Tara Strahan, who is the glue that holds it all together. I lead the session on “Authenticity: Aligning Your Message and Perspective.” We use a case study involving Medtronic medical technology company based in Minneapolis that just so happens to have Penn State alumnus and former hockey player Geoff Martha as its CEO.
Coincidentally, the exercises that I ask the participants to engage in are all about self-reflection. They include defining their core values, creating a personal vision statement and doing an “Attitude of Gratitude” plan and a “You Review.” The most important part of being your authentic self in communication is to “know thyself.” What really matters in your life? Have you taken the time to give this intentional thought and to put it in writing? If the best is yet to come for you then this is precisely the chance to do your own deep dive as we flip the calendar from 2021 to 2022.
I want to encourage you to find time during the holidays as 2021 ends, to do an assessment of “self.” You may discover that you came up a little short in some parts of your life plan, and that’s OK, provided you adjust going into the new year. Most important at this time of the year is to start by counting your blessings. Be intentional in making a list of the good in your life. Even if you’ve suffered setbacks, find the proverbial silver linings as best you can.
At the risk of repeating myself, I want to confirm that we have had several blessings because of the pandemic. The best blessing is that we have had all three of our adult children home with us for the better part of 2021 and that time together has been priceless. Perhaps most importantly it has forced my wife and I to slow down and rethink what really matters to us. We have taken the time as a couple to intentionally discuss what we want to do with the rest of our lives and that took a lot of soul searching.
As a result of “The Great Pause” and our deliberate deep dive into what we want to do, we have accelerated our plans to enjoy the “go-go” phase of our golden years, as my wife and I both turn 62 this year. We have intentionally decided that this will be our last full winter in State College as construction will begin in January on our new home in Bluffton, South Carolina, and we will transition next fall to a semi-retired, active adult lifestyle. The town of Bluffton is situated 30 minutes from Hilton Head Island beaches and 30 minutes from Savannah, Georgia (and their brand new 7,500 seat minor league hockey arena!). My achy, arthritic bones and joints just can’t take the cold winter weather anymore. The number of sunny days will provide plenty of vitamin D and opportunities for a variety of outdoor activities. Did I mention there are 65 golf courses in the area?
We plan to live October to May in the Lowcountry and be back in Happy Valley June through September. We will also travel back for key football and hockey games and for the holidays to be with family and friends back north, so you’re not getting rid of us completely. In fact, there are 700 PSU alumni living in the Lowcountry and it has one of the most active alumni chapters, led by energetic State College native Nina Hand. It’s a good bet we will stay actively involved, albeit from a distance. I will continue to write, speak and offer my Pragmatic Passion personal and professional development programs throughout the year, just at a more modest pace and sans the cold weather.
Not all of you reading this column will be making such a big life decision in 2022, but I do hope that you will be encouraged to be intentional in counting your blessings and taking stock of your life. Regardless of how events transpired this past year for you, and those who you love, I hope that you will embrace an attitude that “the best is yet to come” heading into the new year.
From the Battista Family (including Barkley the dog), we wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday Season, and an amazing 2022!
