“‘Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” – Soren Kierkergaard*
I learned a powerful lesson about twenty-five years ago when I climbed Mt. Ixtaccihuatl in Mexico. The guides brought along a roll of crepe paper – lightweight, colorful, and paper, not plastic. At every decision point they tied a small bit of crepe paper to a tree branch or stick.
When I asked for more detail about route-finding, a guide told me that when we make the choices about which fork to take, we often forget to turn around and look at what it will look like coming back. He pointed out that the light, the contrast with the surroundings, the angle, it all looks different on the return. What we think is memorable going one way looks completely different when we turn around.
This rings true for me in life as well. I’m often so focused on the route ahead that I forget to take a moment to reflect on what I’ve learned. When I do pause, I find that looking back at the choices I’ve made or the a-ha moments that have mattered help me to take them in more deeply.
So in this episode of How to Share, we have a playlist of some of the incredible insights that have been shared in the last sixteen episodes. The lineup of amazing guests have taught us that:
- Authenticity matters: In leadership, outlook, communication and receiving, it’ll ring false if we don’t show up as ourselves.
- Slow down and celebrate the wins: Whether you are taking on a big task, changing the world one letter at a time, or preparing for a significant test, slowing our roll to remember our successes provides fuel for the next leg.
- Storytelling is vital: Stories move us. One thru-line from all our successful guests is that being able to passionately pitch a story or idea leads to inspiration, openness, and movement.
These clips remind us that to collaborate we need to know ourselves, remember who we are talking to, and to convince anyone including ourselves, we need to be able to tell a passionate story
Takeaways
- Reflecting on past choices enhances our understanding of the present.
- Vulnerability is essential for effective leadership and collaboration.
- Failures should be viewed as learning opportunities, not setbacks.
- Audience awareness is crucial in effective communication.
- When sharing life’s challenges, it’s okay to remember the story is about the person with the challenge.
- Digital security is important in managing personal information.
- Humor can bridge gaps in communication and foster connection.
- Experiencing life at a slower pace allows for deeper connections.
- Optimism can blind us to potential risks and challenges.
- Seeing the risks can help you couch the negative into a better action plan
- Reducing the friction between ambition and achievement and remembering your successes
- Cynicism can prevent us from taking action and engaging in meaningful change.
* I also love the Steve Jobs variation on this quote: “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.“
Here’s a clip from this compendium of insight:
Here are some ways you can listen and watch this packed-with-goodness episode:
- The podcast player embedded below
- Click this link to watch in a browser: How to Share Recaps
- Subscribe to How To Share on Spotify, Amazon Music, or Apple Podcasts
- Subscribing to the YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@howtosharepodcast
Please listen, watch, provide feedback and subscribe.
How to Share Our Luck with Gil Gillenwater – How To Share
Links for this podcast:
Brian Hannon’s blog: Writing from the Heart with Brian
Vicki Atkinson’s blog: Victoria Ponders
Michelle Oram’s blog: Boomer Eco Crusader
Finding Happy by Peter Samuelson
Mark Petruska’s blog: Mark My Words
Rise Above the Script by Albert Bramante
(featured photo from Pexels)
We are always scared to look back. We worry that we may see the negatives. But all along as you said there would be aha moments.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, such a great observation, Ganga. Right!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, life backward DOES look different. What an insightful lesson you learned about going back, because when you climb a mountain, you do have to go back and probably the same way you came up. It’s a bit different on a hike when it can be a circular route. I am going to give this a listen on the way into school this morning. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good point about circular routes, Clay. Hope your day was great forwards and backwards!
LikeLike
Sometimes on a circular hike, I go a different direction. It always looks different. Moving forward, have a wonderful Thursday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So interesting. Happy Thursday to you, Clay!
LikeLiked by 1 person
These are important lessons, Wynne. Thank you. Of course, we all use the language of success and failure, winning and losing.
At this stage of things, at least for me, I ask myself why Socrates or Jesus, for example, didn’t commonly use that language often, if at all. Was it because they were looking for something different? Just wondering. Thanks for provoking my thoughts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is an incredibly thought-provoking question, Dr. Stein. Now you have me wondering too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love your take aways, Wynn! Thanks for sharing these wise words. I’ll be back for a listen soon!
💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for tuning in, Cindy! ❤
LikeLike
This is super cool! I love how adept you are at gathering goodness, Wynne. Wow and wow. 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, what an incredible compliment coming from you, dear friend! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure…what a terrific showcase…and I’m honored to be included. 🥰
LikeLike
So true Wynne! Thanks for this encouraging reminder.
My life’s front windshield is cracked and often so fogged up it’s difficult to see where I’m headed, but my rear mirror is smooth and clear revealing I’ve been there… done that, and gratefully journeyed through.
Keep Looking Up ^ … His Best is Yet to Come!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gratefully journeyed through — that says so much, Fred! Yes!
LikeLike
“Such a profound reflection! 🌟 The crepe paper as a guide is such a beautiful metaphor for life—leaving markers so we can look back and understand, even as we keep moving forward.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the way you put it, safia. So we can look back and understand, even as we keep moving forward — so good!
LikeLike
Brilliant post Wynne
Thank you🤗
I think many people chase their dreams without enjoying the small wins.
SUCCESS means different things to different people.
I am not interested in fame or fortune, no thanks!
The small moments to me are actually my big moments.
I do however have a dream of signing books in Waterstones.
Shh 🤭 don’t tell.
Just enjoy what you do and be authentic
LikeLiked by 1 person
“The small moments to me are actually my big moments.” – that is so wise, Maggie! And cheers to your dream! I believe you will do it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww thank you Wynne.
I do love the small moments because they BIG for me.
I hope you are having a good day 🤗
LikeLike
I love Steve Jobs quote and all the takeaways you’ve posted. What a great idea that the mountain climbing was all marked so you could easily find your way back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t that a lovely way to mark it? Thanks, Elizabeth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😊
LikeLike
It is very thought-provoking to realize how different things can look though all the comings and goings of life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Isn’t it? Thanks, Dana!
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is so good to reflect back and think how far we’ve. you know I’m a big proponent of baby steps, and sometimes it feels like we’re not even making progress at all, but as you said, if we stop and look back, we can learn a lot from what we’ve already done and give ourselves credit for how far we’ve actually come. I recently heard someone from the band The Eagles something in the same vein, that only now, that he is much older, does he have any understanding of how all these little dots along the way connected to bring him exactly to where he was meant to be, though he could not see why many of the things that happened along the way (the dots) had happened. can’t wait to listen and learn
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow – the Eagles. How interesting!
I imagine working with kids that you see the power of looking back. The amount they change in a school year is amazing but barely perceptible at the time.
Great comment – thanks, Beth!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The crepe paper story is what I’m holding onto this week, Wynne. That is so TRUE about having to look back to remember what will be front of you on the return. I am so drawn to that idea. Thank you so much!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I’m so glad that my story is a route marker for you, Melanie!! Amazing how we can’t see it going forward! Thanks, my friend! ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m always, always happy to check in and learn something. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my gosh, what an amazing life lesson Wynne. Who would have thought that something as simple as crepe paper would have such a powerful meaning. Love this my friend! 🤗💖😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree, Kym. Crepe paper! Thanks, my friend! ❤ ❤ ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and you’re very welcome Wynne. Cheers to a wonderful week my dear! 😘💖😍
LikeLike
I love that: ‘slow down and celebrate the wins’ —
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hard to remember sometimes! Thanks, John!
LikeLiked by 1 person
So much wisdom and insight are offered in this clip, as well as in all your interviews. There is no finish line to learning. It’s not about always being right or the best; it’s about having the wisdom to make changes based on what’s happened to us.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, I love how succinctly you said it, Pete! Exactly! Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the takeaways, well put! Linda xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Linda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am enjoying this new format of your blog particularly recaps and takeaways….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate it, MSW!
LikeLike
Excellent mountain climbing analogy (at least it seems excellent. I have no mountain climbing experience 😂)! Congratulations on a great set of episodes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m smiling! Thank you, Todd!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life often makes sense when we look back and see how all the twists and turns have led us to where we are right now, exactly where we need to be! Should we regret the way not taken? I don’t think so, for life has a way of stepping in and redirecting us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I couldn’t agree more, Tamara. Life has a way of stepping in and redirecting us – so good!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yup, sometimes the universe gives us a nudge, and other times the cogs of the universe to a massive shift, no matter how hard we try to redirect things!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is so good -“Experiencing life at a slower pace allows for deeper connections.” Yes, slow and steady wins the race through life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Slow and steady – it’s not my natural pace but I’m finally figuring it out! Thanks, Mary! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love what you shared about the mountain climbing, Wynne, and I’m still in awe of the hiking and climbing you’ve done. All your takeaways are great, and the quote by Steve Jobs is wise too. We will always learn something, but we have to be open to it, and accept that we’re not failing. Great post! 💕
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lauren! You are so right – we have to be open to learning. Isn’t it funny when we store a lesson that we’re not ready to learn yet and then find out its meaning later on? It feels like most of my climbing stories are that for me – I didn’t understand the import til later!
LikeLiked by 1 person
💗💐💫
LikeLike
love all the lessons!! As a hiker and a writer, I thank you!❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, I love it! Thank you for your perspective as a hiker and a writer, Vickie! That means a lot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
❤️
LikeLike
love all the lessons!! As a hiker and a writer, I thank you!❤️
LikeLike
love all the lessons!! As a hiker and a writer, I thank you!❤️
LikeLike
I enjoyed listening to your recap episode. It was like a greatest hits album of so many lovely and insightful highlights. Congrats on the 16-episode milestone and the great content!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so grateful to you, Ab — for listening to them the first time and then again in the recap. I so appreciate you, my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This discussion is insightful and helps many. I believe that by slowing down and adding some humour in life cope with life’s challenges.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Adding humor — such a great addition. Thank you, Hazel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Wynne. Enjoy your Friday!
LikeLike