My 1-year-old son has had an obsession with the Number 8 for months now. It was actually his fourth word right behind, “Dadda”, “Momma” and “Cat.” He points it out and screams it everywhere he sees it…on a calculator, stacking block, the phone, wherever! I was attributing it to my frequency of watching “Local on the 8s” for the latest weather forecast, but now I’m not so sure. During a recent visit with one of our psychology savvy friends, I asked him what the significance would be with the Number 8. He exclaimed, “It’s Infinity!” I’m wondering what message my little guy is trying to pass on? I’d like to think there are endless possibilities in this life (or the next), which would suit my title of Chief Possibility Officer just nicely!
Wikipedia research states the infinity symbol is sometimes called the lemniscate, from the Latin lemniscus, meaning “ribbon”. A ribbon is binding instead of the typical definition of infinity being “unboundedness.” During this time of year we are ‘wrapping up’ all kinds of things…. holiday gifts, 2011 goals, annual budgets, year-long habits or endeavors. It’s time for ‘wrapping it up’ all over the place.
In either case, infinite possibilities or wrapping up the past year or present, there are learnings from each perspective.
I like to embrace the prism of infinite possibilities to get unstuck from the ‘its just the way it is’ world we sometimes allow ourselves to get trapped in. Seeing my son fixated on the Number 8 brings a smile to my face knowing there’s always another way, another thought, another dream.
I’m also a fan of wrapping things up, the healthy ending and natural cycle of things. Sometimes these endings are of our own control or doing, and sometimes they are imparted on us. Either way, a wrapping up of something as we know it today, opens up possibilities for something else to create and experience. And, of course, I like to think that in itself is a gift and can be even more fulfilling and enriching if we are open to it.
So maybe we’ve come full circle (or figure-8) on this one. Here’s to possibilities this magical season!