Have you thought of getting a dog, traveling solo, shifting careers, saying goodbye to relationships, or beginning spiritual practices? Well, here is short story of a woman who called me wanting something different.
A woman shared she wanted to do something totally different than wife, parent, professor, etc. What she led to was she wanted connection with animals. She had a pet when she was a child. Because her life was active, full, and demanding she chose to have hamsters and gold fish for her children’s pets. No dog or cat.
Long story short, as she explored totally different, I suggested she volunteer to walk along with dog walkers. Surprise and cut to the chase, she decided she didn’t want a dog. What surprised her was she didn’t like the vulnerability of being responsible for a dog. It was loss that triggered that knowing. The dog will die someday is what she told me.
The dog is not scratched off the list. What got on the list was her now wanting to open to the sorrow of losses she had.
Totally different explorations can teach you what you knew all along, open you to what might have gone dormant, or lead to the next idea.
Courage, staying in wonderment and support help the exploration.
What is on your list of totally different? What have you done in the past, at any age, that was totally different than your routine life?
Take good care,
Natalie
Natalie Caine M.A.
Life In Transition, What’s Next?
Empty Nest Support Services
(800) 446-3310 or (818) 763-0188
Los Angeles
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Natalie Caine, M.A. natalie@lifeintransition.org
The totally different post you wrote about could have totally been about
Me except I was the child with only hampsters. I feel as though
I am just waiting around waiting for people to leave me and I don’t even
Know how to truly enjoy the people that are still here because of the
Fear of when they are gone. I have been searching for something new
And different for some time now to no avail.