I’ve been warned. I originally didn’t imagine this happening but now I’m full aware of what is going on. This is a good thing as I can face it better with knowing.

Planning for this annual retreat is nothing short of a climbing Mount Everest. I’m sure that is an outlandish comparison but similarities exist in the coldness of each journey.

Praise for attempting this climb is just as numerous as the squinted eyes of misunderstandings surrounding it. Why us? Why were we chosen? Why James? Why me? How many years have they been married? They are too young, why listen to them?

When I was younger, age 40 was old to me. Now that I’m approaching 40, among our peers I’m considered young. Seems like we categorize people as either millennials or not. And within the group of non-millennials, you are either young or old. Hence, I’m young again and surprisingly without credibility.

At this age, it feels like I have to prove myself all over again. As if I have to ask for permission prior to setting out on such a journey. Or permission to do anything that’s not approved in advance. And since I never asked for this permission and approval, here comes the backlash.

Backlash happens at the completion of a thing. For instance, start something. Start anything. Have a plan and set out with a goal in mind. Along the way things will happen to throw you off the beaten path, but you are resilient and finish the course. You are happy! I mean extremely happy to see it through. It wasn’t easy. Many times you wanted to quit but you didn’t. Unbeknownst to you, issues and situations start to arise interrupting your brief celebration.

Less than 2 weeks after the retreat, here it comes. During the planning phase, my mind was consumed day and night. My thoughts often shifting to the retreat. Often wondering how it was going to turn out. Who would be in attendance, would they enjoy themselves, would they learn a lot and have fun, would they be open and participating, and what would be their parting thoughts.

Well, if I can take a short moment to describe it, I’d say it was divine! It was a time of laughter and much needed discussions bathed in His presence. And it was all shared with the one we all chose to spend the rest of our lives with. It was a beautiful thing. To be a witness to it all, I am blessed for it.

But then like everyone in attendance, we had to return home to our daily lives. For about a week, I was still high and loathing in disbelief at what we’d experienced. Like did that really just happen? Yes, it did. But then my dream was invaded with a raging wave of negativity. And just like that, I almost forgot all about the days before where joy was immeasurable before the distractions entered stage left.

As you round the counter to the finish line or completion of a check point, don’t lose your joy or enthusiasm. You are still the bomb! Bitterness happens when we unknowingly allow life to knock us down unexpectedly. I’m not advocating that we approach our success with apprehension or with fear. Absolutely NOT! What I am promoting is to not allow life’s backlash to shock you. When the shock factor is eliminated, the mental celebrations of our accomplishments get to live longer without being diminished.

Don’t take it personally…the backlash is coming. Face it with a smile. Know what it is when it shows up. Continue to celebrate and set your eyes on the next prize!

Thanks for listening. Remember you are your own competition.

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