The Art of Starting Over

I was scrolling on TikTok (who’s surprised here) and came across this video from Taylor Swift’s Eras tour:

@momoneyymoprobzmother 😂😂 #erastourtaylorswift #surprisesong #taylorswift #lastkiss

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If you’re allergic to TikTok or just don’t have your audio on, she messes up the lyrics and says, “Will you allow me the honor of starting over?”

I loved that. The allowing. There is an honor in starting over. It’s as much of a privilege as it is an art.

There’s a beauty of having another opportunity to do something a little bit differently. Only this time, with the knowledge you gained from learning what wasn’t working for you. What wasn’t sustainable. What you just don’t enjoy the same way you used to when you first started. Things lose their luster over time. Infatuation stages turn to monotonous phases. Dreams you had for ‘one day’ start becoming your day-in and day-out.

“You can’t find a solution in the same environment the problem was created.”

We need space. A change of pace and scenery. To rest. To digest. And generate the energy and motivation to begin again. To feel ready to return with more experience, knowledge, and intention. Closing our eyes for a moment so we can see a familiar situation with a fresh perspective.

And when you’re ready, try something new. Build upon what you’ve already done, or go in a completely different direction. But every time you choose to show up (because it is a choice), you gain more insight and can use that information to make decisions that are more aligned with where you want to go.

To start something new, something has to end.

Like pruning a plant, you have to cut off any dead parts in order to let the plant thrive and allow for new growth. It’s the same thing with our lives- removing what’s not serving us anymore to create space for what will.

We’re going to stay on the car analogies. Race cars at the Indy 500 that are going upwards of 200mph still take a couple seconds to pull off to the side for a pit stop. Slowing down to do a tune-up and check that everything is still operating as intended lets them continue confidently as they speed to the finish line. 

Just because you’ve done something one way, doesn’t mean that’s the only way to do it.