Peeling the Onion

The end of the year is a time to celebrate successes, reflect on learnings, plan for what's next, and appreciate all that you have. This year, I see my gifts in layers, like the layers of an onion.

1. I appreciate the roots of the onion, which connects it to the ground. It provides for our basic needs like food, water, air. I see the victims of the many disasters this year, from floods to fires to human-related calamity. My heart bleeds for them, and I feel grateful to have ongoing access to basic needs.
2. The tough basal plate at the bottom of the onion is connected to the roots, and to me represents the basic connections between people which allows us to get along with each other, embracing our similarities and differences. We are all ONE, connected to the root, connected to the earth.
3. The tunic of the onion - the paper-like outer piece - represents the infrastructure we often take for granted. I'm grateful for the predictable, stable infrastructure in my life - the rules, operations, processes, agreements, procedures, materials - which helps everyone make plans and get places and get things done.
4. Then there are many 'scale leaf' layers of the onion. One of them to me represents the variety of people and experiences around me. Living in a dynamic and diverse region is in turns perplexing and annoying, while also being energizing and fun. I'm grateful for the diversity of people, thoughts and ideas which surround me.
5. Another scale leaf represents exposure to the brightest, most creative technologists and professionals. I'm grateful for these brilliant others who have helped me to connect the dots in new, novel, different ways which benefit and serve others.
6. Another scale leaf is the tangible results of connecting the dots - the technologies, products and solutions which have the ability to change the world. May we all be fortunate enough to have access to the tools and information and people who stretch my imagination, build my knowledge, exercise my mind and expand our outlook and perspective.
7. The most unsavory, but also necessary scale leaf is the way which represents failure and under-performance. I'm grateful for the adversities in my life, and to those who helped me perceive them as a gift, a lesson to be learned, a stepping stone for what's next.
8. Another scale leaf represents the ecosystem of associates, family, mentors, and friends who help us overcome that adversity and be a better version of ourselves in many ways.
9. The scale leaf closest to the center of the onion are the most trusted people - those who provide unconditional love, those who see you at your worst and at your weakest and stand by you still, those who provide support when you feel all alone, those who are just another piece of your very self.
10. At the heart of the onion is the immature flower. It represents hope for the next generation and opportunities for the future and celebrates all things and people who help us each build and embrace a better tomorrow.

My wish for you is that you can choose an environment which welcomes measured risk-taking, applauds new ways of thinking, speaking and acting, and embraces opportunities for DOING things differently.