Forecasting!

Forecasting!

© Allen Merritt (2017)

I woke up this morning, began brushing my teeth, turned and looked out the window to witness the sun shining ever so brightly. For me, this makes my heart and soul smile contentedly. I appreciate looking out into the wild blue yonder and feeling how it is going to be a good one. It’s a great set up for beginning a wonderful day. In my case, the weather promotes and enlivens my spirit. There is nothing like feeling happy as you saunter out into the real world, which leads me to ponder a couple of questions.

How much of our daily routine is dependent on the weather?

Does weather affect our mood?

Does June gloom make us want to pull the covers back up over our head until the gloominess passes?

How many times have we started the day and half way through it wished we could go back and start the day all over again?

I know some people whose arthritis flares up every time the rains come. Some even use this as a way of predicting the weather patterns in their area. They can feel it in their bones!

What is great about waking up each morning is that it is kind of like being born again. We’re renewed, refreshed and have rendered an opportunity to see things in a new light and have another chance to pick up and go, start where we left off and continue creating life.

Whether or not the weather impacts your outlook, appreciating what the world has to offer each moment makes a difference in developing a positive mindset. While thinking on these thoughts my mind honed in on the word ‘forecasting’.

Forecasting refers to looking ahead, foreshadowing the future and foreseeing outcomes.  It’s our best guess for what is about to happen, as verified by every meteorologist. And, as I have heard many times in every part of the country, if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute and it will change. This is a good metaphor for living positively. Meaning, if you don’t like this moment, wait a minute and it will change. That is the wonder of life; it is dynamic and constantly changing.

Consequently, I’m also reminded of the old Irish song “It’s a long way to Tipperary”, which I used to think was "...a long way to Temporary." The analogy I get from the "temporary" version is that all things are temporary. However, when you are in the thick of it all, it seems to drag on forever, but on hindsight it was just a drop in the bucket, a blip on the computer screen. Maybe we make more out of our plights than we should. By using forecasting as a tool to pave a path to a better future we can see in advance the possibilities, the better times ahead and more.

Furthermore, I see this as how we can as individuals enhance our lives that much more by utilizing the initiative of forecasting as a tool toward developing a better attitude, appreciation and positive mental and physical well being.

Think of it as casting forward the best vision (and version) of yourself you want to be; like a fisherman casting his line and waiting to see what comes back to him after he reels the line back in. Forecasting in this way affords everyone a chance to envision our best selves.

Forecasting is an art unto itself. It is based on experience, patterns and previous data and/or knowledge. In fact, it’s interesting to note there are many variables of forecasting including qualitative, quantitative, average approach, naïve approach, drift method, seasonal, time series methods, as well as judgmental and artificial intelligence. ¹ Of course, a lot of forecasting is structured around weather patterns and economic trends, but it doesn’t mean it cannot apply to our daily routine.

So the questions of the week include:

What is your forecast?

What are you putting forth?

What are you throwing out there?

 What do you expect to receive back in return?

Just remember, if you are throwing out misery, because you love that sort of company; or anger, vengefulness, negativity and similar emotive and reactionary actions, then you can expect to get back the same from the world around you. To avoid this, change your forecast. Put on a smile or even a half smile. All of us have to start somewhere when we’re feeling the blues and want to get back to our happy place.

For me, the best place to start is through forecasting. Change your mind about the outcome.

Isn’t this the same as finding ways to cheer yourself up when you are down?

Let us all go forward into a new week and cast forth the best we can imagine.

With that in mind, enjoy life on a positive note.

Cheers!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forecasting (viewed on 06/10/2017)¹