East and west coast Washingtonians basked in the sun as President Obama was inaugurated onTuesday.  We got relief from some rather harsh weather, and we also energetically took in warming and elevating energy as our new President spoke to us about the changes and challenges ahead.  What a model of calm confidence and leadership he and our new First Lady, Michele Obama, provide!

During his inaugural speech President Obama used “I” very few times preferring to use “we” as he called all of us forth to regenerate ourselves and our country.  Government will do its part, and we must take responsibility and do ours was the message I and countless others heard.

Responsibility fit well with his call for us to “set aside childish things” as we move forward.  This bold statement was one of the hard truths I now can hear more easily as it comes from an individual who himself has done the hard work to earn our respect.  He will be tested many more times.  And, so will we.

At midlife we have increased capacity and urgency to make conscious choices about how we want to be in the world.  What childish ways is it time to give up individually and collectively?

Personally I can shudder once again “in the winter cold” as I review all the areas I have for improvement from a redesigned marketing process to optimizing how I use my resources in my life and in my business.  And, if I take moments to return to and bask in the sunshine of this “new day,” I know “I can, we can, yes, we can can!” for we have been given another chance to step into our greatness.

Let's engage in conversations about how we can and will step into our greatness at the very time we are more attentive to the betterment of the whole.