---
title: Looking Back and Looking Forward
description: Looking Back and Looking Forward
image: https://www.brainzooming.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Personal-Reflection-May-25-2022-02-04-16-11-PM.jpg
---

# Looking Back and Looking Forward

[Insights](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/insights)

As a New Year's message, here's an adaptation of a Christmas Eve post from my ["Aligning Your Life's Work"](http://aligningyourlifeswork.blogspot.com/) blog.

It's a brief reflection on making the absolute best of 2009. Interestingly enough, since writing it, we've had a few new challenges emerge in our lives, so it's been a great opportunity to put the lesson into practice right away!

["A Glorious Day and All It Entails"](http://aligningyourlifeswork.blogspot.com/2008/12/glorious-day-and-all-it-entails.html#comments)

Every year in mid-October, there’s a completely clear day where the setting sun outside my ninth floor window lights up the trees just to the north of the building, making the fall colors come alive. Photos never do the sight justice.

Last fall, for whatever reason, this clear, glorious day didn’t arrive. Two things were in the way.

First, many trees in our area were bulldozed to make way for new retail development. Watching this large stand of trees destroyed over the course of a few days was incredibly disheartening. Driving to work the morning after the first day of bulldozing, I saw a deer standing amid a pile of torn down trees eating leaves where it used to live. It almost pushed me over the edge.

Secondly, the remaining trees didn’t achieve the same incredible color scheme this year. The leaves looked more brown than they did yellow, orange, or red.

So what happened instead?

On a mid-October day this year, there was intermittent rain. Far from being clear, the sky was grey, with ominous clouds rolling through all day long.

Then in late afternoon, a rainbow appeared, and the clouds, now very low in the sky, began giving way in various parts of town. As they did, different parts of the city began to light up, revealing beautiful colors among trees throughout Kansas City.

In a unique way, the day of glorious color this year was much more intriguing, not knowing which trees would next receive their flash of illumination, only to randomly surrender it to other trees miles away. What has been a beautiful scene became an interactive display of color and light. It was the most glorious October day yet.

Think about it.

We are finishing a calendar year many view as having stripped away tremendously important things (i.e., money, wealth, status), leaving a dismal landscape, with dim and daunting uncertainty about the year ahead. Sounds a lot like the view from my window, doesn’t it?

What’s the lesson? The glorious day I was anticipating and looking forward to didn’t happen. Instead, challenges and hindrances spoiled the expectation, while working to create something even more glorious.

What I take away is the reminder that challenges, trials, and difficulties are all part of the impetus for creating great things; things we perhaps couldn’t imagine without having to face unexpected hurdles.

For all of us, pray we can take the challenges 2008 presented and those that 2009 holds and make it a truly wondrous year unlike any we’ve experienced before. Blessings for the New Year!

## You Might Also Like:

[![Looking to a Greater Power](https://www.brainzooming.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/5-min-idling-limit-4.jpg?width=415&height=456&name=5-min-idling-limit-4.jpg) ](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/looking-to-a-greater-power)

#### [Looking to a Greater Power](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/looking-to-a-greater-power)

[![Looking for a Good Time? Get a Hotel Room!](https://www.brainzooming.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Strategic0PLanning1-1-May-25-2022-02-03-08-46-PM.jpg?width=415&height=456&name=Strategic0PLanning1-1-May-25-2022-02-03-08-46-PM.jpg) ](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/looking-for-a-good-time-get-a-hotel-room)

#### [Looking for a Good Time? Get a Hotel Room!](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/looking-for-a-good-time-get-a-hotel-room)

[![Strategic Thinking - What Kind of Perfection Are You Looking For?](https://www.brainzooming.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/bdtp-gtrp-4.jpg?width=415&height=456&name=bdtp-gtrp-4.jpg) ](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/strategic-thinking-what-kind-of-perfection-are-you-looking-for)

#### [Strategic Thinking - What Kind of Perfection Are You Looking For?](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/strategic-thinking-what-kind-of-perfection-are-you-looking-for)

Date published: 12/31/08

Search

## Zoom your brain!

Enter your email address for emails bursting with creativity.

### Brainzooming Topics

- [Analysis (89)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/analysis)
- [Blogging (244)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/blogging)
- [Branding (421)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/branding)
- [Career (361)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/career)
- [Change your character (32)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/change-your-character)
- [Collaboration (953)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/collaboration)
- [Communication (661)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/communication)
- [Competitive Strategy (121)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/competitive-strategy)
- [Compilations (116)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/compilations)
- [Creative Quickies (56)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/creative-quickie)
- [Creativity (1013)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/creativity)
- [Diversity (134)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/diversity)
- [Ebook (57)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/ebook)
- [Events (262)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/events)
- [Facebook (116)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/facebook)
- [Fun Strategic Planning (53)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/fun-strategic-planning)
- [Google Fiber (28)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/google-fiber)
- [Guest author (199)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/guest-author)
- [Humor (114)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/humor)
- [Idea Magnets (132)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/idea-magnets)
- [Implementation (999)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/implementation)
- [Innovation (972)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/innovation)
- [Insights (335)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/insights)
- [Market Research (83)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/market-research)
- [Marketing (378)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/marketing)
- [Offered Without Comment (33)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/offered-without-comment)
- [Performance (1183)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/performance)
- [Social media (416)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/social-media)
- [Strategic Planning (326)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/strategic-planning)
- [Strategic Thinking (1378)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/strategic-thinking)
- [Strategy (1112)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/strategy)
- [Tools (1423)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/tools)
- [Twitter (252)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/tweets)
- [Video (127)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/tag/video)

### Archives

- [March 2025 (2)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2025/03)
- [February 2025 (2)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2025/02)
- [January 2025 (2)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2025/01)
- [December 2024 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2024/12)
- [November 2024 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2024/11)
- [October 2024 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2024/10)
- [September 2024 (2)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2024/09)
- [May 2024 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2024/05)
- [March 2024 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2024/03)
- [February 2024 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2024/02)
- [January 2024 (9)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2024/01)
- [December 2023 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/12)
- [November 2023 (2)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/11)
- [October 2023 (2)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/10)
- [September 2023 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/09)
- [August 2023 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/08)
- [July 2023 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/07)
- [June 2023 (2)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/06)
- [May 2023 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/05)
- [April 2023 (7)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/04)
- [March 2023 (12)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/03)
- [February 2023 (6)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/02)
- [January 2023 (6)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2023/01)
- [December 2022 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/12)
- [November 2022 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/11)
- [October 2022 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/10)
- [September 2022 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/09)
- [August 2022 (5)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/08)
- [July 2022 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/07)
- [June 2022 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/06)
- [April 2022 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/04)
- [March 2022 (7)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/03)
- [February 2022 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2022/02)
- [July 2021 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2021/07)
- [April 2021 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2021/04)
- [March 2021 (11)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2021/03)
- [February 2021 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2021/02)
- [January 2021 (4)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2021/01)
- [December 2020 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/12)
- [October 2020 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/10)
- [July 2020 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/07)
- [June 2020 (2)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/06)
- [May 2020 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/05)
- [April 2020 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/04)
- [March 2020 (6)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/03)
- [February 2020 (7)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/02)
- [January 2020 (7)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2020/01)
- [December 2019 (3)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/12)
- [November 2019 (4)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/11)
- [October 2019 (9)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/10)
- [September 2019 (4)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/09)
- [August 2019 (7)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/08)
- [July 2019 (6)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/07)
- [June 2019 (11)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/06)
- [May 2019 (1)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/05)
- [February 2019 (12)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/02)
- [January 2019 (16)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2019/01)
- [December 2018 (5)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/12)
- [November 2018 (16)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/11)
- [October 2018 (4)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/10)
- [September 2018 (5)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/09)
- [August 2018 (9)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/08)
- [July 2018 (13)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/07)
- [June 2018 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/06)
- [May 2018 (6)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/05)
- [April 2018 (8)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/04)
- [March 2018 (7)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/03)
- [February 2018 (14)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/02)
- [January 2018 (16)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2018/01)
- [December 2017 (7)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/12)
- [November 2017 (10)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/11)
- [October 2017 (7)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/10)
- [September 2017 (9)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/09)
- [August 2017 (9)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/08)
- [July 2017 (12)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/07)
- [June 2017 (14)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/06)
- [May 2017 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/05)
- [April 2017 (14)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/04)
- [March 2017 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/03)
- [February 2017 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/02)
- [January 2017 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2017/01)
- [December 2016 (5)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/12)
- [November 2016 (10)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/11)
- [October 2016 (10)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/10)
- [September 2016 (11)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/09)
- [August 2016 (14)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/08)
- [July 2016 (11)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/07)
- [June 2016 (10)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/06)
- [May 2016 (12)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/05)
- [April 2016 (13)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/04)
- [March 2016 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/03)
- [February 2016 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/02)
- [January 2016 (17)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2016/01)
- [December 2015 (14)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/12)
- [November 2015 (16)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/11)
- [October 2015 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/10)
- [September 2015 (16)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/09)
- [August 2015 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/08)
- [July 2015 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/07)
- [June 2015 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/06)
- [May 2015 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/05)
- [April 2015 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/04)
- [March 2015 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/03)
- [February 2015 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/02)
- [January 2015 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2015/01)
- [December 2014 (14)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/12)
- [November 2014 (17)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/11)
- [October 2014 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/10)
- [September 2014 (17)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/09)
- [August 2014 (16)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/08)
- [July 2014 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/07)
- [June 2014 (17)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/06)
- [May 2014 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/05)
- [April 2014 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/04)
- [March 2014 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/03)
- [February 2014 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/02)
- [January 2014 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2014/01)
- [December 2013 (17)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/12)
- [November 2013 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/11)
- [October 2013 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/10)
- [September 2013 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/09)
- [August 2013 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/08)
- [July 2013 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/07)
- [June 2013 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/06)
- [May 2013 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/05)
- [April 2013 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/04)
- [March 2013 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/03)
- [February 2013 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/02)
- [January 2013 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2013/01)
- [December 2012 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/12)
- [November 2012 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/11)
- [October 2012 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/10)
- [September 2012 (10)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/09)
- [August 2012 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/08)
- [July 2012 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/07)
- [June 2012 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/06)
- [May 2012 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/05)
- [April 2012 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/04)
- [March 2012 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/03)
- [February 2012 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/02)
- [January 2012 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2012/01)
- [December 2011 (15)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/12)
- [November 2011 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/11)
- [October 2011 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/10)
- [September 2011 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/09)
- [August 2011 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/08)
- [July 2011 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/07)
- [June 2011 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/06)
- [May 2011 (24)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/05)
- [April 2011 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/04)
- [March 2011 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/03)
- [February 2011 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/02)
- [January 2011 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2011/01)
- [December 2010 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/12)
- [November 2010 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/11)
- [October 2010 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/10)
- [September 2010 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/09)
- [August 2010 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/08)
- [July 2010 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/07)
- [June 2010 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/06)
- [May 2010 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/05)
- [April 2010 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/04)
- [March 2010 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/03)
- [February 2010 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/02)
- [January 2010 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2010/01)
- [December 2009 (13)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/12)
- [November 2009 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/11)
- [October 2009 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/10)
- [September 2009 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/09)
- [August 2009 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/08)
- [July 2009 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/07)
- [June 2009 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/06)
- [May 2009 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/05)
- [April 2009 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/04)
- [March 2009 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/03)
- [February 2009 (23)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/02)
- [January 2009 (26)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2009/01)
- [December 2008 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/12)
- [November 2008 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/11)
- [October 2008 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/10)
- [September 2008 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/09)
- [August 2008 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/08)
- [July 2008 (20)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/07)
- [June 2008 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/06)
- [May 2008 (18)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/05)
- [April 2008 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/04)
- [March 2008 (19)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/03)
- [February 2008 (21)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/02)
- [January 2008 (22)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2008/01)
- [December 2007 (15)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2007/12)
- [November 2007 (5)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2007/11)
- [October 2007 (6)](https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/archive/2007/10)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Mike Brown",
    "url" : "https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/author/mike-brown"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2022-05-25T14:34:33.307Z",
  "datePublished" : "2008-12-31T11:00:00.000Z",
  "headline" : "Looking Back and Looking Forward",
  "image" : [ "https://www.brainzooming.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Personal-Reflection-May-25-2022-02-04-16-11-PM.jpg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://www.brainzooming.com/blog/looking-back-and-looking-forward",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://www.brainzooming.com/hubfs/Brainzooming_November2018/Images/BZ_GrpLOGO_012_RGB_80.png"
    },
    "name" : "The Brainzooming Group"
  }
}
```