Growth and Change

I have recently had the opportunity to bear witness as several friends made their way through major life changes.

Childbirth, retirement, graduation, career change, moving. 

I have been surrounded by change. I find the timing to be so appropriate as I dig my heels in against the relentless slide towards fall. 

Change. 

Each of us has our own relationship with change. Some of us are more comfortable with it than others. Some of us are restless souls that seek the new, and some of us are prone to settle more contentedly. 

Whether we welcome or avoid change - it comes nonetheless. 

Sometimes it comes long-awaited and with much planning. 

Sometimes it comes unexpectedly and with much juggling. 

It comes with joy; it comes with fear. 

Sometimes it comes in all of these ways, all at once. 

The largest of life's changes seem to be this way. Although planned for, they arrive on their own schedule. Long-awaited, yet still scary and overwhelming. Exciting and terrifying. Full of potential joy and potential heartache. 

What has been most remarkable to me as I have watched these brave souls is the delicate balance between taking control and relinquishing control. 

With any change there is a balance of asserting one's will and allowing change to unfold. 

The balance is an undoubtedly tricky task to master. 

How hard to push? How soon to make a move? Perhaps better to wait? Or is the time now? 

In the end, it seems to me that successful transitions require intense periods of effort, strong will and determination, and periods of effortlessness, stillness and acceptance. 

For me the acceptance part is often the most challenging. Especially as the reality of the change is often not exactly as we had planned, hoped, dreamed, and strived for.

But, we must let go. Let go and accept or we risk exhausting ourselves, running eternally towards a reality that existed only in our minds. 

In this way change is two-fold. First we manifest our dreams - bringing the change out of our hearts and minds and into reality.  Striving, working, risking. 

 Then we must allow reality to to soften our expectations into acceptance and enjoyment of the present as it is. Releasing our judgments. 

Oh it's hard work to live this life, isn't it? 

At least we're in it together. 

I'm so, so proud to know you. Each of you. Yes, you! 

You beautiful, brave souls - you!

Keep up the good work.