| Every week, I am driven by my desire to give back and share my knowledge by answering questions and providing solutions. However, as I sat behind my keyboard this week, I felt the urge to do something entirely different. This time, I want to share a challenge that I have yet to conquer, an issue for which I don’t have all the answers. Why? Because I aim to challenge myself in the coming year to overcome it, and I invite you to discover your own biggest challenge and join me on this journey.
My story begins in childhood, as many stories do, with my dad serving as a prominent character. From my earliest memories, I recall my father as a man on a mission. He found great satisfaction in accomplishing tasks efficiently, a trait he wore like a badge of honor. Whether it was a simple errand like picking up bread on the way home or a more significant endeavor like taking me shopping for a new pair of shoes, everything became a mission for him. The sole objective was to complete it as swiftly and flawlessly as possible.
For my father, the more tasks he checked off his list in a day, the happier he became by evening. On days when he couldn’t clear his to-do list, he grew visibly agitated. Even family dinner time wasn’t exempt from this mission-oriented mindset; it was just another task to be completed promptly, making way for other items on his ever-growing list.
Growing up, I absorbed my father’s mission-oriented mindset like a sponge. Whether it was fulfilling my parents’ requests, completing homework for my teachers, organizing friends’ birthday parties, crafting a girlfriend’s resume, or fixing a client’s computer, I became known for my ability to get things done. The praise I received for my efficiency filled me with pride, and I proudly wore my reputation as a badge of honor. However, this mindset came at a cost. I often found myself rushing through enjoyable experiences, eager to declare them ‘done’ so I could move on to the next item on my ever-expanding to-do list.
Fast forward to today, I still take pride in my ability to get things done efficiently, but it’s time to seriously practice being present in the moment. While there are certain things I do every week, like writing this newsletter, where I’ve learned to be in the moment, I sometimes feel guilty for slowing down the process of checking things off my list. However, I remind myself that the meaning of life isn’t solely about getting things done; ‘done’ is just a destination, and it’s the journey that truly matters.
In the coming year, I’m making a commitment to work on this aspect of myself. I aim to be a person who can still achieve tasks efficiently but also knows when to pause and fully immerse myself in the present moment. Do you have any advice for me on this journey? What are you committing to conquer in 2024? I’d love to hear your thoughts and share your aspirations.
– Burak Sarac, Team Lead
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