In September this IG post[1] caught my attention. The door was most riveting! It is old-world, tall, magnificent and unfamiliar. Truly, it is enchanting! Wouldn’t you like to go in?
I wondered: What is behind that door? Is it the entrance or exit to a palace, cathedral, or museum? And, how do you open it? Do you need a key, or do you just push it? Or, do you knock and someone opens it for you?
The young lady also intrigued me. Why is she laughing? Is it because of what she had already seen inside? Or is it because of all she had been through to get there? She clearly seems to be a version of Alice in Wonderland or Dorothy in Oz? I bet she has some fascinating tales to share. As such, her trip is well worth it.
My mind turned to me. I was entering the last quarter of 2022 and I had already been on quite an adventure. After catching my breath, I decided I too should muster all my skills to enter that door. Truly, we had gone through too many things to not actually get to the end of the year- to not herald in another.
It was time to lean back, to reflect.
I figured that there was the temptation to not enter too. After all, just getting to the door is an adventure that others would commend me for. However, if I should return home now then I would know that I got closer to my goal and yet not take it. If this in itself was not the goal, then it would haunt me till I made the trek again.
Thankfully, I mustered the courage to tweak my goals in order to push the door.
October, as a writer, I celebrated the blogs and the uploading of my e-book to Amazon. The audible version was being edited.
Now that it is November, I could just settle for that and cruise to the end of the year. Or, I could become inundated by the other things that need to be done. You know how November is, don’t you?
It brings a sudden onslaught of activities, bills, sniffles, projects, reports, deadlines, events, rehearsals, traffic, shopping, stress, distress, and so on and so forth. Am I the only one that tends to feel blindsided at this time of year?
I am convinced that round about Halloween, Failure sneaks in masked as To-Do Lists, illness and/or urgent demands. I can smell its spicy cologne. It wreaks of must-be-done-NOW. It suffocates the perfume of our optimism and small wins. It squelches our motivation until we succumb to the feelings of cyaah badda or disappointing feedback or fear or failure.
Trus’ me! I remember last November well. By the end of October, I was faced with the impossibility of publishing my 1st book, Sweet Sop See. The feedback I had received was both helpful and disappointing. I had to decide whether to postpone the deadline or rewrite the book using the information I had gleaned.
The writhing pain of disappointment as well as recognising my own limitations of time, funds and other resources, was being impacted by the bulging schedule life brought. Thankfully, the decisions taken led to a most wonderful birthday and Christmas gift — I held the book mock-up in my hand. Then, it was launched in 2022! Presently, the feedback being received makes me know it was a most worthwhile venture.
So, now that you and I are in November, how can we triumphantly meet our personal goals by the end of this year?
Well, just this week I was reintroduced to Olé! Olé is a sound that communicates skill, approval and admiration. It drives one on to a win. In English the pronunciation is “Olay!” It’s not a word. Yet, it communicates. It has a magical or supernatural effect. Sometimes it comes out softly. At other times it is wild and loud. Sometimes it is repeated in a chant or cheer. Another time it may be drawn out. It may come out as a guttural sound or as joyful whimsy. We tend to hear it at football matches, in flamenco and in bullfighting. It evokes sooo much!
Olé! is my new theme for NOVEMBER.
Hear me out: football, flamenco, and bullfighting are sports or performance activities that have things in common with achieving goals.
First, they are evidence of Opportunity. Yes, Opportunity to perform – to do- to make- to become. Many persons have dreams that are still wishes. However, if you and I are in the arena, or are on the stage, it means that we have the opportunity to make something of ourselves. Win or lose, succeed or fail, we are no longer on the outskirts wishing for just one moment in time. We are here NOW! And since we are here then oooolé!
Can you hear the military precision of the music as you enter the field? Do you remember the nervous excitement of what you thought the future holds? Now that you are here: Retrieve your pride; Refresh your enthusiasm; Revisit the vision you nurtured. OoooLé!
Next, opportunity is not eternal. All 3 activities have a time limit. Similarly, we have to complete our tasks in a specified time. So, even though our goal is to WIN we must complete a set of tasks or movements in a timely manner in order to meet our overarching goal. Even if we are given extra time, we still have a boundary. Its time to revisit the list of things we need to do and attach a realistic timeline to it. Yes, use all that you now know to revise the game plan.
Here is another point, each movement is a configuration of beauty, passion, flexibility, discipline, poise, skill, coordination and rhythm. Those who are admired make it seem effortless. The superstars get the most uproarious applause. However, all who are admired will tell you that those days are few in comparison to the many days of fumbles and frustration, tears and practise, pain and surprises.
Sometimes, I find that in my own pursuit of perfection, I become so downcast that I don’t get up and keep to the rhythm. Disappointment and distress may assail me in such a way that I lose out on the opportunity to compete or even complete. It’s in those moments that I need to hear the low running guttural tremulous sound of ole! ole! ole! The palmas and the foot stomping must be a consistent earth tremor Olé! Olé! until OLÉ! sounds like the orchestra of a waterfall.
You see, in each of these activities, the crowd may cheer you on but nothing will be accomplished if you and I lose the belief that we can still achieve our goal. The olé needs to come from deep within ourselves and echo to the crowd. If it starts the other way around, the crowd will cheer and cheer but see nothing transpire. At that point, one hears the most sorrowful moan of ooooolé! and then silence.
A grave silence.
Rather than passing out, we must exude passion! Olé!
Even now I wish you could hear the strumming Spanish guitar. The mounting layers of sound as we turn the page to the next point.
All three activities are an interplay of communities. Yes — a footballer works with his team and his supporters. He is also cognizant of his rivals. If there were no rivals then this would just be a pastime. If you and I don’t face obstacles, then we are daydreamers. The bullfighter works with his horse, his supporters, the crowd and the bull. The flamenco dancer(s) must communicate with the musician(s) and the audience. Each unit of the community provides valuable feedback. In fact, they all must be aware of their environment too. Elements in the environment affect performance. They all contribute to the progress and the outcome.
Similarly, you and I will do better if we respond to our community as well as to our challenges. Even though we are not in control of everything there is a way to work in tandem with them so that we are not always reacting. Remember, we want to respond to the rhythm. We want to be able to influence the twists and turns so that the win is in our favor.
One of the best investments I made this year as a writer was to join the Chasing Dreams Writers Community[2]. Another is to invest the time needed to listen to those podcasts that sharpen my skills and provide insight. One more is starting this blog and getting your feedback. All by myself would not be as rewarding.
Where is your community? Who is on your team? Who are your rivals? What are the challenges? Identifying them will help you strategise successfully.
Finally, olé reminds me of a quote from Captain Horace Burrell, the former president of the Jamaica Football Federation. Years ago, when asked how he felt about the poor performance of the Reggae Boyz in a match, he said something like, “Well, enuh, I always say an ugly goal is better than a pretty lose.” He reiterated that he preferred the team give him an ugly win any day if the alternative is a loss.
This November, I too need to remember that. Getting to goal is more important than the perfect poise. If I can just get to the end of the year achieving something rather than nothing then I shall have the opportunity to return to the drawing board and work on skills that will marry the goals and the poise next year. Remember, both are very important. However, at this time in the game, the score is of utmost importance. If I win this quarter, this month or this year, then I can return to play at another level.
Do you share that sentiment too? If yes, then it’s time to adjust our focus. What is necessary to ensure we achieve something rather than nothing? Let’s reflect and then prioritise appropriately.
Last November I answered those questions after prayerfully considering another scary question: Suppose, this was my very last opportunity, what would I need in order to avoid regret? Yes— suppose I were to migrate or become disabled or die and never have this chance again, what would get me out of the slough of despond? The answer enabled me to zero in on the essential.
To me, returning to the dressing room in a pristine costume is not going to deliver my wide grin. Rather, knowing that I overcame obstacles to bring a dream closer to reality is much more fulfilling. For that, I raise the lance, I inhale the surging chants of Olé! and now I charge forward. Will you do the same too?
Olé! Olé! Olé! Olé-tra-tra-Ya!
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