​Do it YOUR Way

I remember clearly when my son Ron first said to me, “I want to do it my way.” 
As Thanksgiving peaks around the corner, I begin thinking of the reasons why I am truly, madly, deeply, thankful. At the top, I’m thankful for being in my seventies and still able to do it my way. Finally! I can take the blame or accept the accolades equally and say, “yep, I did it my way!”  I am sure many of you reading this can relate to this statement. Aging has its benefits. 
 As the veil of pandemic uncertainty seems to be lifting, our salon has weathered the storm with a few added rays of sunshine: Samantha’s baby Elaina, a sweet blessing; an extra pair of hands at Pluma, our Beverly is back; new clients to the salon; and gratitude for our clients who stayed and kept us going for the past two years for whom we are absolutely thankful. You stayed and together we did it your way, our way, and their way. 

​Recently I read Stephen Schwarzman’s book, What It Takes, Lessons in the Pursuit of Excellence. He is chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, one of the world’s leading investment firms. Mr. Schwarzman is a self-made icon and billionaire philanthropist supporting education, culture, and the arts worldwide. His 25 lessons toward the pursuit of excellence listed in the book are a treasure chest of inspiration for anyone growing a business or reactivating a personal life. At times, against tough setbacks, he succeeded and continues to change the lives of many. He certainly has done life his way. 

I watched a movie, “Front of Class”, based on the true story about Brad Cohen, challenged with Tourette Syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations. His dream was to become a school teacher. Rejected by dozens of schools because of his loud noises and tics, he never gave up. A school finally hired him and he was presented with The First Year Teacher Award in the state of Georgia. In his acceptance speech he said, “ Never let anything stop you from chasing your dream…. from working or playing or falling in love.” Mr. Cohen is currently a motivational speaker, author, teacher, Assistant Principal, and married with children. He absolutely did life his way.

My friend Stephanie asked me if I would use the quote, “If not now, when?” in my Snippets. I thought much about how these two statements came together. If not now, when will I do it my way?  And isn’t that the question we are asking: “when?” The complete quote is as follows, “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” Attributed to Hillel the Elder, a well-known rabbinical religious leader, sage, and scholar. Need I say he did life his way?

No matter who you are, in some respect you have done it your way. Whether you believe it or not, somehow, you have been for yourself, and become the ‘I am’ of who you are today. Most of us don’t believe we are doing life our way. As author Elizabeth Strout wrote in her book, My Name is Lucy Barton, “We will never know what it is like to be another person.”  

On this Thanksgiving consider giving thanks for you and that this past year you have weathered your personal storms and perhaps those of your loved ones. Be grateful for choices still ahead to be made, people to meet, places to explore, and awareness to be had.  Our everyday thoughts, emotions and actions lead us to do it our way, in some cases the only way we can. 

Please go to the link below and enjoy the inspiring song, written by Paul Anka, singer, songwriter for Frank Sinatra, master entrainer, when Sinatra thought he was ready to retire. Well, Mr. Sinatra did not retire when he began singing this song. He kept going for years entertaining and inspiring millions around the world. Mr. Anka knew for sure, most of us do life Our Way!

Love,
Hilda