A Post a Day in May 2019 #20: The Point of No Return

I have pledged to write a new post for this blog every day in May

The Victoria Day long weekend is how we mark the beginning of the summer season in Canada. Regardless of the weather, it is, traditionally, this weekend that marks our return to time in the great out of doors — camping, the cottage, canoe trips, whatever it is that gets us outside. 

For us, this year, we are lucky enough to be back at the cottage on Lake Winnipeg, but we have a project that will bring us indoors for at least some days at this early stage of the summer: the guest room is getting a make-over. When complete, it will still be small, but the walls should be painted, the window properly framed, the floor newly carpeted. Now that we are in the midst of the details of the project, I’m not sure why I was so keen to start it, but there is no turning back now. In a fit of grand ideas, at Easter I got up on the Sunday and, without much ceremony, ripped out the ancient carpet. The furniture was easy to move, and the carpet and underlay came up without any problem. You can see the results in the photo. 

This is the point of no return. Every project has one and, for me, getting to it is almost as good as finishing the whole project. It’s that point when I realize the force to complete the work is greater than the desire (or ability) to stop. Moving forward is the only option, so move forward I, or we, do. 

Sometimes, a point of no return is intellectual or emotional. For example, when I was asked to write and present the nomination speech for Lisa Naylor earlier this week, I said yes before I could think too much about it. That was the point of no return: I was committed; therefore, I would do it. When I posted publicly that I was going to write a post a day in May on this blog, I was committed; therefore, I’m doing it. When I told my departmental chair that I wanted to be considered for the acting position when he went on leave, I created the point of no return. He is now on leave and I am now acting chair — for better or worse; I asked for it, now I have to live up to it. 

The point of no return is a galvanizing moment for me. Sometimes, I think long and hard about the step that will take me to it. Sometimes, it’s a spur of the moment decision. But, either way, that point is an important milestone for me, because it marks the division between thought and action, between the status quo and a new possibility. 

I’m confident we’ll finish the cottage guest room. After all, we’re past the point of no return and Mum is coming for her annual stay in July. And that is a combination of forces — momentum and maternal — that I will happily work with. 

Thanks for reading. 

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