#onwards — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #onwards, aggregated by home.social.
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"How you manage your disappointments defines whether you just heal, or whether you evolve!" - Futurist Jim Carroll
Skiing has defined a large part of who I am and what I do.
And I've certainly documented my history with the sport here!
For over 25 years, the slopes have been my winter sanctuary. I’m usually the first one at the chairlift, chasing that perfect morning run and the "exuberance of the carve." It’s more than just a hobby; it’s a rhythm that connects me with friends and family, acting as the backdrop for some of my best memories.
The sport has even found its way into my professional life as a futurist. I’ve often written about the "Powder Principle." It's a story about a young engineer who turned down a high-paying job because it would mess with his skiing time, which became a great way to explain shifting generational values. I’ve also explored the link between high performance and business speed, drawing lessons from sharing the slopes with Olympian Larisa Yurkiw. Then there are numerous trends and innovation pieces I have written about the sport as a way of explaining the future and opportunity.
Skiing has always been a perfect metaphor for agility and looking ahead!
Of course, this past season didn't go as planned. As many of you know, a fall on the ice left me with a spinal injury that sidelined me for the entire winter. It was a tough break - literally- but I’m making this my final word on the matter.Yesterday, during an early morning walk, I went over to the chairlift where I would usually start my day, at the sport where I would claim 'first chair.' It was tough to be there, but it was kind of a cathartic moment, and a big learning opportunity for me!
It reminded me that dwelling on the "what ifs" doesn't help anyone, and
frankly, I’m ready to move past the injury narrative and focus entirely on the recovery.That brings me back to the idea of evolving. Instead of being bitter about the lost season, I’ve shifted my focus to what’s next. I’m trading the ski boots for golf clubs as I prepare for a tee time at St. Andrews in just 48 days, and I'm finding joy in new roles, like being a grandfather to Mason.
Managing disappointment isn't just about healing the damage; it's about pivoting to new opportunities with a positive mindset!
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Futurist Jim Carroll will start 'rotation' exercises in just a few weeks to start his rehab process for golf!
**#Disappointment** **#Evolution** **#Healing** **#Skiing** **#Resilience** **#Pivot** **#Mindset** **#Growth** **#Recovery** **#Perspective** **#NewChapter** **#Gratitude** **#Golf** **#StAndrews** **#Grandfather** **#Transformation** **#Cathartic** **#Forward** **#Opportunity** **#Positivity** **#Lessons** **#Moving** **#Letting** **#Embrace** **#Onwards**
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“You are the sum total of all of your highs and each of your lows.“ - Futurist Jim Carroll, via Lauren Daigle
Some songs speak to your soul.
And some lyrics reach out and grab you by the throat.
This one did.
It hits you right in the pre-chorus of Lauren Daigle's "You Say." She asks the question: "Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sIaT8Jl2zpI
The song came on while I was out for one of my first outdoor walks since my November spinal injury, and it hit the moment perfectly.
My answer to her question is: Yes, you are more—but you are also the sum.
You must accept the lows as a critical part of the process rather than pretending they don't exist. Otherwise, you'll never have the opportunity to learn from them.
In my career as a futurist, I tell clients that innovation isn't a straight line "up and to the right." It’s a messy squiggly line of breakthroughs and failures. You cannot have the "High" of a new invention without the "Low" of the failed prototype.
If you delete the failure, you delete the lesson.
My incident has informed me. It has taught me that the "lows"—the pain, the confinement, the loss of the ski season, the frustration,was not lost time. It was valuable insight.
It was the construction site where my resilience was being reinforced.
Rebar for life, if you think about it!
When life throws you a curveball, you have to live through and feel the emotions, rather than trying to hide from them.
Don't edit out the lows. Own them. They are the only reason the highs mean anything at all.
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Futurist Jim Carroll is back out for his regular morning sunrise walks, and is back to the gym. It feels great!
**#Highs** **#Lows** **#Resilience** **#Soul** **#Music** **#Lessons** **#Growth** **#Journey** **#Emotion** **#Healing** **#Wisdom** **#Life** **#Recovery** **#Strength** **#Learning** **#Failure** **#Breakthrough** **#Acceptance** **#Perspective** **#Inspiration** **#Process** **#Heart** **#Balance** **#Meaning** **#Onwards**
Original post: https://jimcarroll.com/2026/02/daily-inspiration-you-are-the-sum-total-of-all-of-your-highs-and-each-of-your-lows/