Column by Dr. Ann Hollingworth
This time of the year is hay-making time, an activity that truly depends on the weather. The sun has to shine and the rain has to stay away for long enough to cut it, let it dry, bale it, and then put it up. When that happens, people stay and make hay, regardless of what other life demands call on them. Life can be like that at times also. Just as we take advantage of the right weather to make hay, we need to take advantage of the right life circumstances with which to achieve certain things.
I remember when the National Certification for School Counselors came into being. For a certain time, the national test was being normed and any school counselor who took the test; basically passed the test and also got their national certification. After that, the requirements were very strenuous and much more involved. So school counselors who did not take advantage of the norming group missed out on a much easier way to get national certification and the substantial pay raise that went with it.
How do we know when to take advantage of life’s sunshine to do something. With hay-making, people get soil samples to guide fertilizer application, apply the fertilizer at the right time, line up folks to help with the process and watch the weather forecast. With life, we can also prepare and watch what is going on around us. Preparation makes a very positive difference in that we are ready when life gets to the right place for taking action. It also is helpful to watch is going on around us as some things will support us and some things will hinder us. Being watchful helps us to get the right timing.
