Over the last few months, I've been inspired by two dear friends. Their natural talent to sculpt fragments of daily life into linguistic masterpieces has left me laughing out loud, tingling with joy and then shaking my head in amazement. Together, they have given me the gifts of mindfulness and happiness. They also have impeccable timing...
Change has been on my mind lately--why it's a struggle and how to embrace it. If you've ever been around me during a transition--like starting kindergarten, losing nine straight basketball games in college, or simply altering the daily routine that I am so.very.content with--you are likely well aware that coping with change can be a lengthy process for me.
It's fair to say I've exerted too much mental energy on the 'struggle' lately and I should be focusing on honing my 'embracing techniques.' It has been an enlightening exercise nonetheless. Many changes have felt like trudging through muck because the grass was green before the muck. Life was good! And when things are good, why would you want them to change?! Here comes the first 'embracing technique: If things were good, they can be more good (grammatically correct version: they can be better!)
Through a series of random moments, most recently driving in the car, I was reminded that change isn't complicated. However, it can easily be made complicated; something I'm no stranger to. So for the second 'embracing technique,' I give you: celebrate the simple joys when in transition. Whether it's feeling like Peter Pan floating to Never Never Land while driving through the fog, or conquering a hill on a rainy run, I try to let the simple joy bring a smile, and let the smile bring a positive perspective. Releasing the worries--that oldie but goodie image of a sailboat floating away, the letters of my written worries bobbing up and down with the mast.
Now, sometimes it's overwhelming to manage all the worries, emotions and thoughts racing through my head during a change. Inspired by lyrics from Heathers' Forget Me Knots, 'it's alright not to feel okay, ' I've allowed myself to let the cycle of good and bad days run it's course. It's okay to have bad days. Running has definitely helped manage this cycle. Fresh air combined with a physical, thoughtless, mind-freeing activity--really, it's a win-win.
Back to the boat metaphors...
Tides of the ocean change all the time. Boats travel across oceans. How do boats steady themselves in changing currents? An anchor! My anchors are my people, my values and my commitments, and I've found it's much easier to embrace change when I focus on them.
Becs and Dano, thanks for the inspiration. The song from the wedding speaks the truth:
Why let your voice be tamed?
Maybe we're a little different
There's no need to be ashamed
You've got the light to fight the shadows
I'm glad I finally gathered the motivation to write.
grateful for all you anchors out there :)
