In our quick-fix, fast pace culture, we naturally expect change to occur quickly, but the truth is that big changes take time when it comes to adjusting to a new situation in life. As I undergo a big change myself with regard to retiring from teaching and as I watch friends and family members undergo their own big changes, I am aware that adjusting to your new place in life takes time--it's not a quick-fix, fast pace transition.
The importance of this change is all about setting the stage for the life you hope for in the new stage--making the time to think about what matters to you, and then creating the circumstances to make that happen.
For example, as a loved one and I discuss this change, some of the categories we focus on include the following:
- personal health and happiness
- care for loved ones
- contribution
- good living
- needed tasks and paperwork
As I write about again and again, the only way to make this change in positive ways is to embrace a positive long range, loose-tight vision and a positive daily routine. That loose-tight vision is tight enough to give you a clear direction about the kind of life you want, but loose enough so that when new and interesting opportunities arise, you're ready to take advantage of those. And, the positive routine has a lot to do with the lifeways that make you healthy and happy. What worked in your last chapter may not be positive or neessary in the new chapter--there are countless ways to spend your days, and finding the best ways for who you are and what you want leads to the good life you're aiming for.
Of course, the pandemic in many ways has challenged our ability to embrace new lifeways, but the pandemic has also slowed us down giving us the kind of time we need to think about the changes, lifestyle, people, and projects we're invested in.
In all, know that big changes take time, and good vision and positive routines help to make those changes positive. Onward.