Proud parents and children have called for celebration ideas and with the anxiety of what will be next for them. I remember lists of details for the grad party, gifts for everyone who helped my daughter be who she is, and happily, gifting her milestone, along with my spontaneous tears of another goodbye.
Change continues to happen.
The photo I am sharing is from a workshop I facilitated for men and women about transitions. They are proudly displaying their circle of new connections, the wearing of the toe ring gift I happily gave them, and their written possibilities of what they will take home and begin.
Dipping your toe in the water is a reminder to DIP INTO SOMETHING. JUST START.
You can begin any idea and see where it leads you. What will you dip your toe into as a new beginning of possibilities?
Change might become stalled because of the mind deciding what to do. Do you think the mind is the only tool? What is your gut reaction to the creative ideas you are exploring?
Take a walk and check in with yourself, what are you feeling today? What do you need? What ideas keep visiting you ? Who could support you in your exploration?
Is your head spinning like a hamster on the wheel rather than jumping off and beginning? The number one FREEZER in change is that you don’t START SOMETHING. Did you know that your no’s can lead to your yeses? No, I don’t want to work for someone else anymore. No, I don’t want to volunteer at a museum. No, I don’t want to join a hiking group. No, I don’t want to live with my parents for more than six months.
Kate felt the emptiness. She decided to join a book group. Kate hated it.
Her old Kate would have stayed for all six groups. Her new Kate called the organizer of the book group and said she made a choice that wasn’t a match for her, goodbye and thank you.
Each experience builds your confidence and teaches you who you are today and who you aren’t.
Adults get to change their mind. Begin something and see what you learn about yourself. No judgment. You are on a learning path.
WANDERING IS A GOOD THING. We haven’t been shown or given permission as adults to wander with ideas. Like a recipe…try a little of this and a little of that and give a taste. Like vacation, meander down streets and shops and see what catches your eye and your smile. Wander with your ideas.
Begin one. Leave one. Begin again.
BEING IN THE MOMENT AND APPRECIATING IT is practice. Clients call and say, “I had a great time, but it didn’t lead to anything.” They discount the value of the moment that made them happy. HAPPY. False expectations of an experience having to land something can take away the joy you had.
Keep going…
Natalie
Natalie Caine M.A.
Empty Nest Support Services
(800) 446-3310 or (818) 763-0188
On the web www.emptynestsupport.com
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Change is inevitable. Get Ready. Get Support. Life transitions need a hand to hold.
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Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org
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