Where do balloons go when you set them free? It can happen to anyone. It happened to me. –Jamie Lee Curtis
My parents live in an old, stone farmhouse in southern New Hampshire. The woods and fields surrounding the property are idyllic, and turn into a magical wonderland with a little blanket of snow.
It was just such a scenario that greeted us last week. My brother Steve and his son, Stephen Daniel, joined me for a hike around around our 90-acre field to the south of the farmhouse. Normally, it is treacherous terrain with marsh, ticks, water and thick brush obscuring any path. But the winter snow wiped everything clean and cleared the way for a glorious adventure.
We hiked all way to the backside of the property beyond a tall stand of bare trees. As the snow silently fell, there was a feeling we were standing where no person had ventured before. And then we saw it.
At the base of tall scrub brush was a giant mylar balloon in the shape of Spider Man. Taken on its own, it was interesting, but not remarkable. But this was the same balloon that had escaped a summer party at the farmhouse five years earlier!
Prior to this discovery, I had always assumed that when balloons suddenly (and sometimes tragically) slip away, they disappear forever. As they turn into dots on the horizon, they simply disintegrate into the atmosphere. But here was this balloon, tattered, torn and back in our lives.
And don’t we all have lost balloons that make it back into our personal and personal lives?
The Lost Balloons Will Always Come Back
In our work lives, we have so many chapters in our careers. We may learn a skill early on but not need it in the next phase of our employment. We may form a great relationship with a client but then move into another position and lose touch. We may have the perfect boss only to watch he or she move on to greener pastures. We may bond with a particular teacher, coach, co-worker, or player only to graduate or see them change professions. These cherished balloons float out of our lives so often. But are they ever truly gone?
There is always an opportunity to leverage old skills in another stage of our lives. There is always an opportunity to reconnect with old clients, co-workers, teachers, coaches and mentors in the later years of our careers. We live in a small world and it is important to remember and appreciate all those balloons that have drifted beyond the horizon.
Even if we never capitalize on a skill we learn early on, it is not a waste. Even if we never see the people who challenged us and made us better, it does not mean they had no impact on our lives. All skills are transferable and useful in other areas. And the people who have positively influenced our careers will always impact us long after they have retired and moved on.
Certain Balloons Never Float Away
And this is especially true in our personal lives. We may experience a falling out with a friend or family member. We may watch our sons or daughters go off to college and out into the big world. We may lose a loved one before their time. The balloons may float helplessly out of reach. We may not see them, but they have not gone far.
True relationships never end. There is always room for understanding and forgiveness even when all seems lost. Our children may grow up and move on, but they will always take a piece of home with them. We may suffer the death of a loved one. But they will always hold a place in the snowy fields of our minds. Some balloons disappear but will always be with us.
Resilience Requires As Many Balloons as Possible
Why do we need these balloons in our lives? Because when the skies turn dark, we need every positive force to help us find the sunshine. Perhaps it is a long dormant skill. Perhaps it is advice from an old colleague or mentor. Perhaps it is the support of a long lost friend or family member. Perhaps it is the love of our children or parents. Perhaps it is the inspiration of a personal hero who has gone before us.
Resilience is not something we can muster alone. It will take every colorful balloon in our arsenal to help us come back stronger than ever.
The balloons will drift in and out of our lives. But they are never truly gone. We have to hold on tightly to the ones we have in our hands. And find and cherish those balloons that fly away beyond the horizon.