Transitions!! Necessary buy tough!

Some people do not like change. They say that change is hard and they don't understand why things cannot just stay the same. It is easier that way and less painful.

The answer is, simply, because life is always changing. We are all about change. The sun rises in the morning, and through the course of the day makes its way across the sky, until it sets on the other side of the sky at night time. Night then comes with a beautiful moon and continues moving through the night sky, landing on the other side of the sky so the sun can rise again. This is a process of continual change. The flowers bloom and open in the daylight and close at night. The birds come to visit us in the day time and sleep at night.

We as humans go through similar changes. We fall in love and transition from being alone to being part of a couple. We start to do more things together, we spend time with each other's families, and then transition to the next step, perhaps engagement. Then after that step we transition to being married. Now, as part of a couple, we may also become parents, another huge change in our lives and one that is not to be taken lightly.

From here, as the kids grow up and leave the home, we transition to being empty nesters, once again able to enjoy the peace and space of our home, and also spend more time with our love partner. Hopefully we make it through parenting together as this can sometimes be when couples split up. Perhaps we split because we do not agree on parenting our children. Perhaps because one of us, or both of us, has spent too much time at work and one partner looked for love elsewhere. If that is the case and the differences cannot be ironed out, then another transition occurs by way of divorce. This is usually the hardest of transitions because it separates what once was a happy heart into a heart of hurt and pain. This can sometimes be the hardest transition to overcome. It can take some of us many years to heal the heart of past hurts as we always have the questions of "Was it me? What if I had done something differently? What did I do wrong? Why did this have to happen?" Asking these questions can sometimes bring you clarity and peace, but sometimes things just happen, or people change their minds, or it has nothing to do with you and it has everything to do with the other person. The important thing in this transition is to let it go, find forgiveness for that person so we can free ourselves of the chains that hold us prisoner, and move on to finding the peace and love that we deserve.

After once again enjoying our lives with grown children, we transition into being the person we were meant to be all along. This person is the one that goes after their dreams and desires and finds a way to bring them to fruition. We also heal our hearts and become the best person we can be. We learn to let go of relationships that no longer serve us, and this means friends as well. We choose the people we want to spend time with, and we choose how to spend our time. Perhaps this is the time to transition from working for someone to being our own boss. Perhaps now is the time to write that book. Or perhaps now is the time to travel and see the world. Now is the time, and only now, to decide what you want and let the universe figure out the HOW. Dream big, desire greatness, work towards making a difference in the world. Whatever it is you have been longing to do, do it now. Now is all there is!!

The last transition, and perhaps the hardest, is knowing when it is time to let go of the big house and downsize to perhaps a senior's apartment or building. It is most difficult to say goodbye to all the stuff we accumulate and realize that it is no longer necessary or important. As we make this change to a different living space, the space itself helps us to purge of what is no longer essential in our lives. Though we move several times in our lives and purge as we go, this is perhaps the most profound change there is. As seniors, we realize our children are grown with children of their own, perhaps already adults themselves. We realize that it is been a lifetime of changes and growning, getting to watch our blood lines grown and learn, fall and get back up again. We review our lives through the lense of our memories and know that those memories, pictures and feelings will be with us forever. Now, it is only the pieces that make our life comfortable to live, that we need to keep. Instead of stuff, at this time we need our family. We need different and new memories, filled with laughter and grandbaby giggles. We need love from our children and grandchildren and to know that all is well. We did great in this life, and now it is time to simply enjoy our existance, doing only what we wish to do; doing the things that bring us pleasure. We make peace with where we are and know that we did the best we could with what we had.

As we travel through our days and make many transitions, I dedicate this article to my parents. Through 2 divorces, being a single parent, and all of my other ups and downs, they have always been there for me with open arms. With all that life has dealt my 4 siblings, my parents have always been there for them as well. Through good times and bad, through heartache and happiness, we have all come through our lives' transitions better and stronger than before. Now as my parents transition from a large house in the country to a senior's apartment in the city, it is time for us to be supportive and helpful to them. Now is the time for us kids to give back and make their new home enjoyable and fun. Though the size of the apartment itself is a big transition to get used to, so too is letting go of the things they no longer need. It is difficult to watch and they have worked so hard at accepting this life change. As reality hits, the emotions can become too much. But through all that, all of their children have been there to help them and support them, and as the days go by, it is good for my parents to be back in the city with the kids and grandkids close by, creating more loving memories to hold on to.

So let's celebrate every accomplisment, every transition, and every step forward. Together we make this planet better and together we will all come out better and stronger than before. Peace, blessings love and light to all of you!