By John P. Slosek, Jr. — The Insurance Coach™
There are certain words in life that seem to carry far
more meaning than their simple translation. One such phrase comes from the
Lakota people, one of the great nations within the Sioux family. The phrase is
Piya Wiconi, which translates to "New Life" or "A New
Beginning."
But it goes much deeper than merely starting over.
In the Lakota tradition, the concept isn't about erasing
yesterday. It isn't pretending mistakes never happened. It isn't denying loss,
disappointment, or pain. Instead, Piya Wiconi means honoring where you've been
while choosing to walk forward differently.
It means life is sacred, and because life itself is
sacred, every sunrise gives us another opportunity. Another chance. Another
beginning.
Most of us have experienced moments when life forced us
into our own version of Piya Wiconi.
Perhaps it came after the loss of someone we loved. Maybe
it was after a divorce or the end of a toxic relationship. Maybe it came after
financial hardship, illness, addiction, failure, or simply realizing that the
life we were living no longer reflected the person we wanted to become.
We've all had moments when we stood in front of the mirror
and had to face the one person who would never lie to us.
Ourselves! I challenge you at
some point to face yourself in the mirror. “The Mirror of Truth” and ask yourself
the following questions.
Am I living by my core values in life?
If you were given one year to live, how would your life
change in the next 365 days?
What is one truth about yourself that you are afraid to
admit, and it is limiting your life?
If you were given a magic wand and it would allow you to
change one thing from your past, what would it be?
There are many other self-absorbing questions we could ask
ourselves. The answers our outcomes to these questions will create change if
needed or just point your life compass in better direction. I hope you take
this challenge on. I look at it as a life opportunity for change.
And perhaps, on that day, you might quietly say: "Today's the day." Not next year. Not
after the bills are paid. Not when circumstances are perfect. Not when fear
goes away. Today.
Because that's what Piya Wiconi is about. The Native
people didn't wait for January 1st to create a new year. They understood that
every sunrise carried a quiet message:
"You get another shot." Think about how many
people are carrying yesterday on their shoulders. Regrets. Bad decisions. Missed
opportunities. Broken dreams. Words they wish they could take back. Financial
mistakes. Relationships that didn't work. Disappointments that still haunt
them.
Many people walk into a brand-new day already defeated because they're still
dragging yesterday behind them. But what if we looked at today through a
different lens?
What if this morning was your Piya Wiconi?
What if today was the day you decided to start managing
your finances better?
What if today was the day you finally made peace with
someone? I personally have a regret that will haunt me for the rest of my days.
When I started first grade a met a boy named David. We became friends for over
30 years. Around 2002, he and I got into a severe disagreement and over the
next 23 years, we never spoke again. In 2025, my best friend reached out and said
“John, lets reconnect with David.” I said absolutely! We were going to get
together in few weeks for dinner, however, that never happened. He died of a
massive heart attack the week before we were set to meet. My Dad would always
tell me, “Be The Bigger Person Johnny”! Be the one to mend the fence of disagreement
or argument because if you wait too long that fence may never look the same
once it is fixed. In this case, I didn’t listen...
Over 23 years, one quick phone call to say, David let’s
meet up for a coffee and settle this. I question myself constantly. What was I
waiting for…the perfect moment…which never showed up.
What if today was the day you stopped waiting for those
perfect moments and starting mending fences that need to be? Because new beginnings aren't
always dramatic. Sometimes they're simply a decision. Sometimes they’re one
phone call to be made. The guts to apologize first. One walk around the
block. One prayer. One page read. One bad habit broken. One good habit started.
It comes down to one choice. And eventually, those small choices become a new
life.
I've learned something over the years. Life rarely gives
us a clean slate. But it does give us fresh pages. And maybe that's enough. The
past can teach us, but it doesn't have to imprison us. Failures can educate us,
but they don't have to define us. Pain can shape us, but it doesn't have to own
us. Because every sunrise whispers the same message: Piya Wiconi. New life. New
beginning. And perhaps the greatest truth of all is this:
No matter how difficult yesterday may have been, God,
life, and the gift of another morning have given you something precious today. A
chance to live anew.
And maybe, just maybe—
Today is your Piya Wiconi.
About the Author
John P. Slosek Jr. is the founder of Slosek Insurance Corporation, established in 1984 and still serving clients today. For more than 40 years, John has worked in the insurance industry helping individuals, families, and business owners better understand protection, risk, and financial responsibility. In addition to operating his and his wife’s insurance agency, John has spent over 30 years as a motivational and self-improvement speaker, focusing on common-sense life lessons, personal growth, and real-world decision-making.
John is also the host of The Insurance Coach® radio show, heard every Saturday morning at 8:00 a.m. on Classic Hits 97.7. www.classichits977.com (Hit Listen Live). The program combines insurance education, life experiences, motivational insight, and practical advice designed to help listeners make better decisions for themselves and their families. John proudly resides in Massachusetts with his family and enjoys spending time with his children and grandchildren.
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