Transition: something that happens on the inside as change is happening on the outside. That feeling of dizzying disorientation when your whole world has shifted and you don’t quite know which end is up. Something we all go through, as our life happens to us, in stages and phases, at sign posts and turning points, again and again. Something ends, and before the new beginning shows up we go through a period of not knowing, where the next thing isn’t yet visible. What William Bridges has termed “The Neutral Zone”. It’s often an uncomfortable place to be. Yet it is so important to experience it fully, to let it transpire as it will, without rushing through to what lies ahead.
I am a psychotherapist, a 63 year old woman, a loving wife, a loyal friend, a devoted sister and aunt. I am embarking on a new adventure: A Blog I’m simply calling “Women in Transition” where I will be sharing my own transitions, meanderings and musings about this journey we call Life. I will be offering tips to make the journey go more smoothly, and commiserating when it doesn’t. I plan to bring in different perspectives and impart wisdom — my own and others’. I will examine our life changes and the transitions that accompany them with candor, integrity and a sense of humor. And as is the case with life itself, I don’t have a clear idea where it will go. More shall be revealed.
In the meantime, let me just tell you that I come to this endeavor quite legitimately. In the past 12 months I have moved twice and changed jobs twice as well. Some people fear change. I relish in the adventure. I welcome the Neutral Zone for I know what fertile ground it can be, ripe for metamorphosis. Sometimes we initiate our life changes and sometimes they happen to us. Each occurrence brings its own challenges and growth opportunities. As I unpack boxes and hang pictures once again, I am struck by how little in this life is in my control. Though I can control where I hang a picture, or what cabinet to put the dishes in, how things will turn out is a still mystery. I’ve been on my new job for a month and I’m still learning the intricacies of new protocols and systems. I have come to realize that I need to be patient and gentle with myself as I navigate the learning curve of a new work environment. I am stretching and growing on a daily basis, as I tackle new computer programs, meet new colleagues and introduce myself to new clients. Having gone through many changes in my 63 years I know that it’s just a matter of time before things begin to feel familiar again; before the ground beneath my feet feels stable again. This too shall pass. As the wonderful musical Fiddler on the Roof proclaims, “Sunrise, sunset; sunrise, sunset; Swiftly flow the years. One season following another, laden with happiness and tears.”