2019 / August

This is the night we came alive

Summer Song by Forever the Sickest Kids

Photo by Lubo Minar on Unsplash

This week we are continuing our theme of songs which help us best use the summer with Summer Song by Forever the Sickest Kids. We have been thinking about rest and reflection as a summer activity leading to motivation. This week’s song emphasises using the summer experience to make decisions for a fresh start. The song opens with the lyrics:

I can tell you I’m ready but I’m not, I can say that I care but it’s not enough. So, what are you waiting for? This is the night, we came alive.

If you’re anything like me, you know will know the frustration of waiting for the ‘right time’; it rarely comes! Yet one of the things I’ve been learning over the past couple of years is that the right time is often not really that relevant; what we have is this time. In this song there is an emphasis on the actual making of the decision, not our readiness, or how motivated we might feel, but the commitment to simply deciding and doing.

I really like this concept. Sometimes it is important to hold back, gather more information, make sure we really are committed to a course of action. Yet sometimes we just need to go for it and feel that sense of coming alive with the excitement and nervousness that our decision making might bring. In your summer reflections perhaps, you have noticed there are some things which you need to simply do now as there will never be a perfect time. As the song puts it; So, what are you waiting for? This is the night …

I think our reluctance can often be related to one of the other lyrics in the song:

Into the summer times, state of mind.

Whilst being wise means we make sober judgements of our circumstances in decision making, we also need to acknowledge the interpretive aspect of this act. Our judgements are never without bias or background and so it is often true that it is our state of mind which clouds our ability to make good and timely choices.

So, the message this week is not one about jumping into new or unwise decisions. But recognising; This is our night; this is our time. We shouldn’t, therefore, be putting off decisions, but instead seeking the guidance we need to challenge our preconceptions in the choices we face.

Need some help thinking things through? Why not consider booking an appointment with the author, Dr Dave Wood.

Author

dave@metanoeo.org.uk
Founder and Director of Metanoeo CIC and Metanoeo Coaching. Working with individuals, communities and business to co-create #wellbeing4all through life coaching, resources for living life well and training and supporting life coaches.