Learning from Our Past to Enrich Our Future

“There are times when we must pace back and forth, pondering some experience, seeking insight into why we did or did not do something, why we felt or did not feel a certain way, or why we were so controlled or failed to manage our self rightly. We humans are thinking creatures who are pushed by crisis or pulled by curiosity to look solemnly at ourselves, and we do not always have peace after such a look, because the facts that pile up before us about ourselves are not always good.” (Dr. James Earl Massey)

Dear Colleagues,

As we prepare to celebrate 100 Years of CPE at our Annual ACPE Conference in Minneapolis, I find that I am feeling both excited and reflective.

I am excited that I will get to be with you! I have been growing in relationship with many of you for 27 years! How time flies!

There is so much impacting me personally and professionally that is causing me to consider questions like: Who am I? How am I investing my life? Am I making a difference for good?

In Ralph Ellison’s book The Invisible Man, the unnamed character of the book realizes that he is being pulled in several directions and makes this confession: “I was pulled this way and that for longer than I can remember. And my problem was that I always tried to go in everyone’s way but my own.” Eventually he realized that in order to become “visible” he had to take personal responsibility and establish his own identity and path.

As I have started preparing to attend the Annual Conference, I have been thinking about ACPE a lot. Sometimes I have felt that we have allowed ourselves to be pulled this way and that.  I invite you, my professional family of choice, as you prepare to travel to the Annual Conference to ponder questions like: Who are we? How are we investing our resources? What do we need to do going forward to impact the world for good?

See you in Minneapolis!

Blessings Always, Cecelia