Taking Flight

I’m heading into a unique time period in my life–the time where our children are leaving the nest and becoming adults. This is all well and good, and apparently it is the natural order of things. I remember what seemed like a millennia ago, when I did the same thing, but it was a lot more exciting than watching my own children do it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for my children. They will do wonderful things in life, of that I have no doubt, but as a mom, it is hard to let go. It is hard to realize that I no longer call the shots (at least most of them).

I guess what I’m trying to say is, sometimes, or a lot of times, we have to let go. We have to let those around us fly. Yes, there will be crashes and burns, but that’s when we learn and grow and when great things end up happening. We have to remember that though we have great experience and wisdom to pass on, that they have to gain their own. We can still be that safe landing, if needed, but remember that landings don’t get in the way.

Not only does this apply personally, but applies professionally too. I think it’s easy to get caught up in experience. We don’t want to let go of the way things have always been done. Or we don’t want to give up control. There can be good reasons for those decisions, but ask yourself, are there new ideas that could be successful that you’re ignoring? Or are you discounting others’ ideas because of your own experiences, not realizing that others have different experiences or perhaps need to gain experience?

So perhaps for you, like me, it’s time to let go a little. Let others around us take flight. Be the safe landing place when perhaps things don’t go as planned (they often don’t). You never know, you could have the next Steve Jobs on your hands.

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