Embracing the Strength of the Moment

"This is the most wonderful time of the year." — The Nightmare Before Christmas (Paraphrased to celebrate the present moment)

There’s a certain poetry in watching your children grow into themselves—especially when they begin to match or surpass you in the very areas where you once led the way. My eldest son is nearing adulthood, and as a nationally recognized gymnast in Acrobat, his strength is astonishing. As a fellow athlete in my late forties, roughly the same size as my son, I recently found myself playfully wrestling him, just like we used to when he was younger. But this time, it was different.

He was stronger. His muscles firmer. His body more powerful. And I realized in that moment that he is only going to get stronger while, for me, the natural progression of age will make gaining strength harder. That moment wasn’t just about physicality—it was a deeper mirror. A realization of life’s transitions, and the impermanence of the peak phases we often chase.

It made me think about the trajectory of our entrepreneurial journeys. In our youth or early ventures, we’re fueled by ambition, vision, and a hunger for what’s next. We believe the best is always ahead—and often it is. But there comes a moment, maybe in middle age or after a decade or two of hard-earned experience, when we stop and look around. We realize we’ve already lived through moments that were once future dreams.

And here’s the challenge: at any point on the journey, we can wish to be somewhere else. Younger. Wiser. More experienced. More energetic. Less busy. More supported. But those thoughts rob us of the power of presence. My experience with my son reminded me that this—right now—is the moment to embrace. Because now is the only place where life truly unfolds.

Whether you're at the start of your career or reflecting on decades of work, this is your “most wonderful time of the year.” Why? Because it’s the only one that actually exists. Yesterday is memory. Tomorrow is possibility. But today is power. We wrestle with time just like we wrestle with our children—sometimes playful, sometimes humbling—but always filled with truth if we’re willing to see it.

When we embrace where we are instead of longing for where we were or where we’re going, we gain a kind of strength that no gym can give us. We gain grounded clarity, deep gratitude, and the ability to live fully—right now.

Practical Tips to Stack Your Wins

✅ Celebrate the Present Moment

Create a short daily ritual that reminds you of what’s great today—whether it’s progress, relationships, health, or opportunities.

✅ Acknowledge Transition, Don’t Resist It

Life comes in seasons. Name where you are and honor it, instead of comparing it to where you've been.

✅ Reframe Growth

Instead of always pushing for “what’s next,” ask how you can go deeper with what you already have.

Mantra for the Day

I honor this moment as my greatest strength.

Daily Reflection

What part of your current season in life or business are you resisting—and how might it shift if you fully embraced it?