Solutions October 2017 | Page 44

on Christmas morning I opened a present from my brother. He had taken that broken tree and painstakingly carved it into a thing of beauty, making a wooden bowl from the trunk of the tree. Another chapter of the tree’s story had begun. Reinventing life. Life can be a challenge. Its seasons aren’t always easy. There are gray clouds that gather and dark and stormy skies and flashing thunderstorms that can fell even the staunchest of trees. How do we reinvent life when faced with the prospect of starting over? Here are a few simple tips for reinventing yourself when life has flipped the script. 1. Embrace your talents Start by assessing your strengths. Make a list. Write down every single thing that you are good at. For example, if you are good at public speaking or sewing or writing or crafting, write it down. This list is a good place to start when planning your next step. 2. Set goals Look at your list of talents. Based on your strengths, what do you want to achieve? If money or time or resources were no object, what would you like to accomplish? Write those goals down. Start with your five-year goals. Dream big. Next set three-year goals, then one-year goals, and finally six-month goals. Make sure your goals are concrete, specific, and defined. 3. Make a plan Start with the six-month goals. If money or time or resources were no object, what would you like to accomplish? 44 Solutions