Letting Go to Face the Future
By Jim Sollecito
As age creeps in, I try to focus on what I can do, not what I can’t.
Purposely scheduling life so I always have something to look forward to, I try to let go of some old habits and replace them with better ones. Sometimes it costs too much to try to hold on too tightly to something that really needs to be released.
Water has always been a very important element in my life, relative to both flora and fauna. We live on one Earth where all water is connected and can teach us lessons.
Rivers never go in reverse. That’s good human philosophy, too. Holding forward motion in my visual imagery allows me to focus on the future, the positive direction.
By far my favorite bodies of water are oceans, with limitless possibilities to explore, both on the surface and below. Going about my normal daily work routine, I can always conjure a smile when I start to think about flyfishing in skinny salty water. It is not the fish I caught that keeps me going back, but those that eluded me. Usually due to angler error, which itself is an ongoing lesson.
Studying people more skilled or experienced than I am is one way I continue to grow. Because when I am out on the salt water, I am not necessarily at the top of the food chain. There’s always something new to me.
And yes, of course, I have a list of things I wish I had done differently. Yet I am thankful for most experiences and achievements. Life is an ongoing master class.
Influenced by Mr. Green Jeans, I was a boy destined to a life in denim. I do get asked why I keep working. Well, working later in life can reduce dementia, boost emotion, help sharpen cognition and preserve physical well-being. The idea of having a place to go or tasks to accomplish is a driver to keep moving. I enjoy mentoring younger staffers while, of course, there’s still plenty for me to learn. Containing my enthusiasm, I’m striving to listen more than I talk. It’s not easy.
The uncertainly of each growing season is part of the charm of my profession.
With so many variables, we have no idea what is going to happen.
Ideally, two Junes and two Octobers would be optimal for a great year.
With all of the changes thrown at us lately, maybe that will happen one day. Probably not.
The weather has become my favorite part of the evening news. Odd to think it’s become the more reliable, stable and comforting portion of the evening coverage.
Change is inevitable; growth is optional. It’s an option I’m thrilled to accept. And that trend is a friend.
Jim Sollecito is the first lifetime senior certified landscape professional in New York State. He operates Sollecito Landscaping Nursery in Syracuse. Contact him at 315-468-1142 or jim@sollecito.com.