Me neither. It’s my
standard response now, as everyone in my household navigates the news that rocked
our world, again. After 16 years of
waking up to sunshine, we’re moving to Seattle.
Yes – I’m picturing the rain, just like you. But also – the GREEN! I remember green!! And Starbucks. LOTS of Starbucks in my future. Guiltless, because enduring all that rain deserves a few pleasures, don't you think?
But the list of people - and things I’m going to
miss about Phoenix is long.
Waaah!!
So we're dusting ourselves off and shopping for umbrellas with
(mostly) smiles because after all, cliché as it sounds, there is nothing more
inevitable than change. I don’t know
anyone my age (a very young-at-heart 45) who hasn’t coped with life-altering
change – the loss of a home, job or parent; or a re-location, a health scare, or
a divorce.
Life’s moving at breakneck speed,
and the pace of change seems to be accelerating. Better hang on and enjoy the ride.
It's not all bad.
As my husband (who will still be recovering from cancer surgery and
radiation when we move) changes to a new job, my kids to new schools, and me to
a new market from which to write, we’re gonna have to
band together. It’s scary – adapting to a
new life. We’ll have to depend on each other. In the end though, I believe
my babies will become stronger, more resilient and more independent. At least, that's what I'm telling myself!!
As for me and hubby, well, a move is bound to draw us closer. Right?
So, my advice to myself, and to anyone else coping with change, is this:
Don’t just Survive
Change – THRIVE!
It’s not easy to adapt to something new, but the process helps
you grow, like the rain on Seattle’s gardens.
1. Accept that change is inevitable, and it never
happens at the right time. Walking
through life knowing that anything is possible - that your life could change in
ways both big and small without notice, helps us roll with the punches.
2. Practice Small Changes Proactively. Life altering changes might not seem like
such a big deal when you make small changes on your own. Take new routes to the office; add a new
recipe to your round; ask for a new project at work, strike up a new friendship out of your comfort zone. Challenge your brain to respond positively to
small changes so larger ones seem less intimidating!
― Laozi