My son graduated from high school. I’m going to have an empty nest. It’s summertime. I bought a boat. My Rotary presidency is ending. All are examples of times when we begin again. I was talking to people this week and asked the question what prevents us from starting over or beginning a new venture. Answers I got were I’m too old, I’m worried about money, what if it doesn’t work, I have responsibilities, what will people think?, etc. I can relate to all of these fears. I have had many changes, start overs, do overs, break ups, break downs, ultimatums and strategums in my life. Some have worked some have not. But all were necessary for me to grow up and become who I am now.

Change can be painful, in fact usually it is painful and scary. But it is also exciting and challenging and keeps you young. Change is not really progress, but more like transformation. We don’t need to get better, but we need to grow. I am looking forward to the next phase of my life. When I get anxious or have doubts, I try to remember my mantra, “Nothing changes, if nothing changes”.

I’ll end with a quote from Anais Nin. “We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations.”

Peace, Todd