As we continue through our first blog series of 2024, I hope that some of the wisdom that I have shared so far has resonated with you.  This week I am going to share a lesson I hope you can learn quicker than I did.  This piece of wisdom will help you navigate both the worst of times and the best of times.  So here goes….

In my opinion, one of the best movie scenes of the last twenty or so years was in the Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the King.  Gandalf is staring down the Balrog on an underground bridge.  As this David vs. Goliath scene plays out, Gandalf drives his staff into the bridge and utters the classic “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!!!!”  As my family will tell you, I love this quote.  In fact every time I see a road sign that says “Do Not Pass” (and there are a lot of them in Florida where I live), I do my best Gandalf impression each and every time, much to their dismay.  

Whenever we are facing a bad situation, it is easy for us to feel like we are standing on that bridge facing down the Grey Wizard who refuses to let the bad times pass.

There have been several times in my life when I was just down.  I didn’t think there was any way that certain circumstances were ever going to get better.  Whether it was a bad boss, a bad relationship or just a bad situation I found myself in (usually of my own creation!), at the time it seemed like I was going to have to deal with it forever.  However, no matter how deep the valley was, eventually as long as I kept moving forward I would start to climb the next peak. 

Part of this is just the benefit of time.  The further we get away from a bad situation, the “less worse” they seem, which is just part of the human condition.  However, in almost all cases, when you hit rock bottom there is only one way to go … up.  The key is to believe, deep down, that better days are ahead.  You just have to keep going forward.

Trust me, each time you come through a bad situation the easier it will be the next time you find yourself in a similar situation.

The same wisdom will also help you out when things are going extremely well.

As much as we would like, life is not a straight line up and to the right.  There are constant ups and downs  I am in no way suggesting that you shouldn’t enjoy the good times.  However, I would recommend that you don’t get too comfortable either.

Once you reach the top of the mountain you are climbing, there is only one way to go to get to the next mountain, and that is down.  Make the most of the time that you have at the top, but prepare for the next valley.  The last thing you want is to get caught in a longing for “the good old days” and miss the next opportunity to create the next great days.

I do want to take a moment to acknowledge mental health issues, which may challenge some people in achieving this perspective.  Additionally, some people will find themselves in such terrible situations where there may be no easy way out.  In no way am I minimizing these serious situations or suggesting that people should just “push through” in these instances.

The next time you find yourself in a really bad situation (or even a really good situation) put on your best Gandalf voice, drive your staff into the ground and proclaim “THIS TOO SHALL PASS!!!”