Just because the clothes fit, does not mean they suit you. To some people this will mean nothing, others will smile and nod. You’ve seen people in clothes/outfits that are fashion dissonant. Just not right. A perfect fit, but maybe wrong for the occasion? Often something that doesn’t resonate with the person you know. Maybe it’s as simple, why would anyone wear that. Things change over time. And with this, I understand why politicians may hang on a little longer than they probably should. They are clinging to a version of themselves that no longer exits.
The contents of my closet got halved this weekend. A old friend was visiting and I asked for 15 minutes of her time to do a yea or nay for my clothes. While I may be the same size, some styles are no longer suitable, be it because of my age or trends.* A few times I countered with…’but I paid a lot of money…” and as soon as the words were out of my mouth, I’d think, impulse buy, I don’t really like it. Other pieces were in the rotation for so long, like a business suit, I forgot until reminded,I hadn’t worn it in 5 years. I’m retired and not in need of business suits. I can let go of the “just in case” since a just in case has not occurred in over 5 years and what was on trend for business attire then is definitely not now. Overall, while everything still a fit, I have aged out of some things that no longer reflect who I am today.
This scenario doesn’t work with everybody. There are those who have to have their “just in case” or those who have a story of everything, you know those other version of themselves. In a recent conversation, I proposed maybe this happens with some politicians. Ruth Bader Ginsberg made history with her contributions, but she died in office at the age of 87. Did she stay too long? Dianne Feinstein died in office at the age of 90. Dianne’s finger slipped through the bullet hole in supervisor Harvey Milk’s wrist when she rushed to his side after Dan White assassinated both San Francisco’s mayor, George Moscone, and Milk. In her mind, was she still that firebrand that went onto become the mayor of San Francisco’s and longest serving female senator in the US?
Where is succession planning? I have a pair of black boots from the 90s that have been resoled twice. I have added other alternatives over the years. It’s what we talk about business and we don’t see enough in politics. Succession planning should start with the idea that things will change, new needs will develop and how to incorporate the new with the old; organizational change management. Far too often what happens, ironically with both clothes and politics, there is a tendency to keep going until something completely gives out. To avoid this, requires the consult of others and a regularly scheduled reviews.
The average age in the US is 39 and in the past the average age of the president at inauguration was 55. Donald Trump was 78 at the time of this most recent inauguration. While in the same period, the average age of congress, in the US, has trended younger. As the image below shows, for the Chuck Grassleys (91) there are the Maxwell Frost (28.) Harmony would be mutual beneficial relationships that include currency on what’s needed now balanced with history and past successes to create the future. A clash between a version of government that no longer works versus a vision of government that works. By the numbers, we are in the middle of political dissonance.
Much like my business suit scenarios, can the US do the ruthless edit? Or, as a country, will the US succumb to just in case, hoard and bloat? As a country, can we look at what reflects our values today and govern accordingly? Thomas Jefferson said “We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as civilized society to remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.”
We’re back to the start. I had a lot of clothes, clothes I looked at everyday that do not support where I am today. I realized I can have a little grace for those who seem to stay to long. This week, challenge yourself, look at your closets, your possessions and consider, are you clinging to a version of yourself that no longer exists?
Balancing on Unstable Surfaces 