“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
2020 is teaching us meaningful lessons—particularly by testing our ability to embrace the unknown and the uncertainty. None of us knew what this decade had in store as we eagerly anticipated the arrival of a new year back in December. We could never have expected that there would come a time that we wished we had received toilet paper as a holiday gift instead of those two airline tickets to Europe. Little did we know that many of us would be trading in our daily commute for a “Zoom shirt.” And how could we have predicted that we would all be home-schooling our children by May?
Yes, 2020 has taught us a great deal so far and most of these life lessons have been hard to swallow. Maybe you’ve lost a job, or even a loved one. Maybe your business is struggling to stay afloat. No matter what challenge you’re facing, it’s uniquely difficult in its own way relative to what your “normal” looked like before the world was thrown into a pandemic.
But how can we move forward? What I have learned so far is that human beings are incredibly resilient. Every day, we continue to move forward knowing full well that nothing lasts forever. It’s an incredible feat that I believe is driven by our hopes, dreams, and steadfast love for our friends and family.
I do hope these are the hardest times that our generation will have to face and I encourage you to keep dreaming, beyond the limits of the pandemic. 2020 may have shaken up your plans, but don’t let it extinguish your flame. Just like Dr. King said, take your first step with the faith that it will work out in the end.
Back when I founded Michael H. Moody Law about a year ago, I had to take a leap of faith. I felt like I was in a rut working at a large law firm, racking up credit card debt, and living for the small amount of time off that I was allotted. Leaving a steady income for a future that was uncertain required a lot of faith, and the encouragement of my wife Marlo was what gave me the courage to take the leap.
I imagine that this year, in particular, is causing people to rethink their priorities. Maybe you prefer the Zoom shirt and have had enough of your commute. Maybe you have lost or grown out of pants entirely. Maybe you’ve learned that if your family is healthy, that’s all that matters—and the trips abroad are just an added luxury. Maybe you’ve even enjoyed the extra time spent with your children watching them grow up and learn at home.
In some respects, 2020 will be an eye-opening experience, forcing us to take a magnifying glass to any uncomfortable truths in our lives. It might even inspire you to consider taking the first step in a new direction or almost require you to do it. Who knows where it will lead you in a year, or two, or five. The changes and decisions you’re making right now could result in a life where you can be the happiest version of yourself.
If legal or financial questions are what’s stopping you from pivoting your current circumstances, that’s where we can help. I have a personal understanding of the fear and uncertainty that accompanies a difficult life transition, and I’m eager to help you navigate the situation with a compassionate approach.
Although this year has probably met zero of your expectations, it can still be salvaged if you open yourself up to the possibility that forced change might lead to a better, different future. When I reflect on the tough changes that I’ve made throughout my life, I’m glad I didn’t let fear drive my decision-making. I hope we can get you to a similar turning point with the peace of mind that, with the right tools, you’re in control of your own destiny.