Hatching a New Year (Achievement Nudge about Reflecting on the Past)

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Last Updated on November 25, 2024 by Bill Truby

When I was very young, growing up on the cattle ranch, my dad gave me some fertile eggs to care for until they hatched. He put them in an incubator with warm lights for me and said, “Now, Billy…all you can do is watch and wait. Doing anything else to these eggs will kill the baby chicks within them.”

So, I watched. Each day I’d look at them. They didn’t do much. In fact, they didn’t do anything at all. They just lay there. Eggs under lamps. Fairly boring for an energetic child like me. I wanted them to do something. I wanted them to hatch!

I remembered how Dad had warned me that if I tried to help them, they wouldn’t live. They needed to crack their own shell. Make their own way. So, I waited…and waited…and waited…

There are multiple lessons I learned from watching those eggs, not the least of which was patience. I couldn’t rush them, and I couldn’t slow them down. Time had to go by exactly the way time goes by.

That’s the way this year has been. No matter what has happened…the good, the bad…the fun, the sad…the wins, the losses, new friends, and bad bosses. Nothing that happened WITHIN time changed the flow of time. Time had to go by exactly as time went by.

However…

What happened during this last year’s time will be remembered by HOW we approached each moment during that time. Our chosen attitude, perspective, and behavior influenced every moment of the time that passed. I, for one, am reflecting on my choices and thinking about whether I want to change them for the coming year.

I’ve looked at my time in the incubator of last year, and am now looking at a new year that is hatching soon. Like those baby chicks I had so long ago, each of us gets to crack open our egg to discover new opportunities, new experiences, new achievements.

I can still remember when the baby chicks started pecking the shell to step into their “new year.” It was so exciting. So cute. So fun. I can’t wait to see what hatches for all of us this new year, too. I know for me, my first act in the new year will be to have a great brunch!

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This article is part of our ongoing Achievement Nudge series—short, witty, and often inspirational articles to spark your personal and professional growth. Explore more nudges on our blog, or sign up for our weekly Nudge and News email. Each edition includes an Achievement Nudge plus leadership, professional development, and personal growth videos and articles to keep you inspired and on track.

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