Where Do Endings Begin?

We are almost halfway through January.  Lots of people have been thinking about beginnings recently; making resolutions to start new habits; setting goals.  I have even made some resolutions and blogging goals, myself.  We often think of the New Year as a time of new beginnings and, indeed, it is.  

However, lately, I have been thinking a lot about endings.

I went to a blog conference in October.  We, of course, got lots of tips about social media, writing, and all things blog-related.  However, we also got some tips about life in general.  One thing they asked several times was “What is your ending?”

The premise behind this question was that you must know where you want to go in order to figure out the best way to get there.  

You have to know where you want to end in order to determine the best way to start.

I have thought about that a lot since then and have realized that it can apply to many different areas of my life.  

What is my ending as a mother?  Hopefully, I will guide my three daughters to becoming happy, well-adjusted, productive members of society.  I want them to be strong, confident women.  I want them to know they are beautiful and that they can do anything they want to do in life.  

If that is the end, I have to start by giving them a solid foundation.  I have to teach them they are strong and beautiful.  I have to show them how to be confident by setting a good example.  I have to encourage their endeavors and tell them how proud I am when they succeed AND when they fail.  I have to have the courage to let them spread their wings and fly away, eventually. 

What is the ending for my marriage?  My goal is to have long and happy relationship in which we end up holding hands while rocking together and reminiscing about our lives, proud of the family we have raised.  My goal is to make it through the tough times together and come through with an even stronger bond.

To reach that ending, we have to be open and honest and trusting.  We have to encourage each other and communicate effectively.  We have to take time to renew and reaffirm our love.

This could certainly apply as well to a career, a big life decision, or, in my case, blogging.

Sometimes the question is easy to answer.  I know what ending I want as a mother and a wife.  The road to the finish line may not be easy but, I have a roadmap and I am reasonably confident that I can find my way.

Sometimes, it is not as easy.  I wanted to be a teacher and a mother.  I was and I am.  Now, I want more, but I'm not quite sure what.  I know it has something to do with writing and being a writer.  However, I'm not quite sure about the details of that ending just yet, so I am have a tough time deciphering how to get there.  I'm working on it, though. 

Sometimes, we think we know the ending we want and we think we know how to get there, so we begin down that path.  Then, we hit a bump or take a wrong turn.  Our ending changes and we have to start again.

Life is not a straight, smooth road.  It is full of twists and turns, bumps and hills.  

Thinking about the ending, though, can help us with the beginning.

What is your ending?  To get there, where do you start?

Ready, set, go!