On this
lovely Sunday morning, the last day of May, I watched CBS Face the Nation for the last time as hosted by Bob Schieffer. Known
as a reporter that most people seem to trust for news and his seemingly non-judgmental
attitude, Schieffer is just one of some highly recognized names that have
signed off their television programs or are going to sign off over the course
of 2014 and 2015. Others who have signed
off are David Letterman after 23 years, Stephen Colbert after 9 years, Jay Leno
after 22 years (slightly interrupted) and soon, Jon Stewart after 17 years. Besides, Colbert who will be taking over
Letterman’s slot on NBC, they all seemed to be going into different directions,
not necessarily just going into retirement.
I was trying
to figure out energetically why all these long-time running hosts were leaving
their shows and did it have an energetic meaning (or was a sign of our times)
that we could all look at for our own lives. I will allow the media and
entertainment pundits to determine the link for our television viewing
audience. But, for the energetics of it, well, this is what came to me.
We all need
to be prepared for change and the next steps on our path of evolution and self-growth,
regardless of what we are leaving behind or moving toward.
What most of
these television people have in common when asked why they are / were leaving
was that “it was time”. All were still at the top of their game, not in fear of
being canceled by the networks, and yet they were feeling like it was time for
a change for themselves and for the next generation of reporters and/or
comedians to take up the mantel. Again, Colbert may be the exception here, but
even he is probably ready for a change from his “fake” entertainment persona to
his “real” entertainment persona.
None of
these people seem to be worried that they are leaving their audiences without
capable replacements. That may be the biggest lesson we can all take from what
they are modeling for us. Evolve yourself and be willing to allow others to
evolve and grow into their next position. I heard one commentator said that the
comedian set to take over the Daily Show from Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah, would not
be able to fill Stewart’s shoes. The commentator’s partner said that 17 years
ago, Jon Stewart would not have been able to fill Jon Stewart’s shoes. That
may be the whole point to this conversation; the need to trust and surrender
when it is time to make a change even when the success of that change and the success
of what is left behind is not guaranteed.
For the rest
of us, is it time to look at what we have been doing for 10, 20, 30 years to
see if it is working for us? Are we at the top of our game, and yet, it is time
for our game to change? If we aren’t at the top of our game, what has been working
for us and what hasn’t been working for us? Have we been kidding ourselves that
we have been working our plan, but we haven’t really. Maybe we are more stuck
then we realized and need to “phone a friend” for help. Or is everything in
good order, and our only need is to allow and detach that those people ready to
fill the gap in the path when we change our focus are really ready, even if
they aren’t at the place we are now.
Regardless,
taking the next step in our own evolution may come at a time when there is or
isn’t someone ready to take our place. That should only be our concern, until
we are guided that it is no longer our concern. If others are unwilling to take
up the mantel, it does no more good for us to mourn that then it does to stay
holding the mantel far too long after it is no longer ours to hold.
