Closure and Beginnings
Woke up this morning to the slow drip of a gray drizzle. The kind of morning which gives you permission to get out of bed slowly, if at all. However, I did get out of bed as I had a call with a long-time friend of mine. We were discussing the details of a transaction which marked the closing of a twenty-year business saga. The night before I had dinner with my son and a partner of their new restaurant. In addition to the closure and opening of commercial activities, I thought of the conclusion of personal relationships and the potential of a yet to be determined one. All of this got me thinking about closures and beginnings.
Proper closure is important, closing in a proper way is not to be ignored. Ignoring a proper closure leaves a dangling frayed thread of what should be said and acknowledged. The cheap, thoughtless way to close is by email or texting. The digital world has provided us with an economic way to communicate but it is a cheap, insincere manner one closes a chapter. Lacking sincerity and humanity it creates the frayed edge leaving the fabric of woven experience in tatters.
I have had plenty (one is more than enough) of texting dismissals but that was not my experience this morning. We have gone through a multitude of issues with this business. I will miss the humor attached to this lengthy experience. I will miss the ongoing communication as we sought to find the right path for company and investors. It was not the business that I was focused on, but the sadness of this closing chapter. It has been “a thing” for over two decades and not being able to talk about it will leave an empty space. But proper closures leave a welcoming opening for something to fill it. A proper conversation ties up the loose ends. One may miss the day-to-day experience but closure ties off those frayed edges.
As this business closes another one is opening in a completely different field. As I focus on my new efforts I find myself working closely with my sons and daughter. How fortunate for me that I can find new beginnings with them. I believe through proper closure one exits the room, closing the door and allowing the next to comfortably open. Somehow we are better able to properly execute this process in business than with affairs of the heart. Nevertheless, proper closure insures the positive growth of the next chapter.
Proper closure --- pick up the damn phone
New beginnings ---- Ditto
I going back to bed……