Is It Time to Ask What Matters Too Much?

That Didn’t Take Long—What Happened to the New Year?

The excitement and optimism for the new year has sure worn-off in a hurry. And I like to think of myself as hopelessly optimistic.

Still, I want to know… what happened to all the ‘New’ in this New Year? Where did it go in such a big hurry? Were we expecting too much to change too soon?

Looks like 2021 might have different plans.

Last week’s post was written and almost ready to publish well ahead of my self-imposed deadline of 6 pm. As I was doing my final edits a little after 2 pm, I got a text from my sister…

“What do you think about all of this?”

Crap, I don’t have time for this right now. (I’m sorry, I was focused). I can’t talk right now!

Well, you can guess how that played out. And that post I had just written—became irrelevant in a nanosecond, no longer right for the day Wednesday, January 6th was turning out to be. Way too upbeat to publish now.

I had no words left. Nothing ‘untucked’ to say for the history unfolding a little over twenty miles away from home.

Let me be clear about one thing…

I’m not mourning the loss of one lousy blog post.

My heart sank as a brick formed in my stomach. Calling it quits for the day, my eyes are now glued once again to the TV screen. This is serious shit unfolding.

I’ve pondered all week since what I might say in this post. What tiny piece of encouragement could I offer?

How did we arrive here and where are we headed? No words. No answers. Only questions.

Finally, late this afternoon something came to me. I (mis)remembered a quote that I thought would be just right. It goes like this… Don’t let things that don’t matter too much, matter too much.

Now that I read it back, I’m not sure. Does it even fit?

I’m wondering if the divide we’re experiencing in our country is because people are mixed-up over what matters and what doesn’t. I believe that’s at least part of it. A fraction maybe.

But it’s not really possible to know.

Funny thing, before last Wednesday afternoon, I was worried that people were setting themselves for certain disappointment by allowing their expectations for 2021 to float way-too-high. That’s what I talked about in the post I scrapped. Seems silly to me now.

So, back to that quote… Correctly stated it goes like this…

Don’t let people who don’t matter too much, matter too much.”

— Wes Moore, author, social entrepreneur, and combat veteran

It’s our friends, families, loved ones, neighbors, communities who matter. Those close to us, people we actually know. I like the quote because it can provoke thought in a lot of different ways. So, I won’t try to interpret it for you.

I believe it’s worth pondering though… Why exactly is this person important to me in my life? It doesn’t matter if it’s an actor, sports hero, or God forbid—a politician. There, I said it.  You might ask the question for all kinds people in your life. 

Do they matter too much or not enough?

Do they stand for what’s really important to you? Are you getting a fair return? Think about it in the privacy of your own imagination. Take all the time you need. Ask it a few times…

Ask it until you’re satisfied the answer serves you and those you really care about.

We can get through this. And it’s going to take some work. But you already know that.

Be untucked.

p.s. Know someone this post might help? Maybe forward it or share it. Thanks!

p.s.s. Need something lighter? This is one of my most read posts ever… “Simple But Powerful Life Lessons from Captain Jack Sparrow” Read it here.

Copyright © 2021 Jeff Meister – All Rights Reserved