On December 17th after 18 months, five countries, 65,165 km, and a 22-hour flight, “my babies” aged 23 and 20, arrived home for the holidays. It truly was the best christmas ever! A holiday filled with celebrations, joyous reunions, parties, and long-awaited time together.
And then it happened. Last Saturday, my 23 year old “little boy”, landed a big boy job with one of the best companies in the world. Today, less than a month later, I am at the airport again waving goodbye, instead of hello, as he jets almost 4000 km away to begin his new career.
To say this is an opportunity of a lifetime would be the understatement of the year. Moreover, no one worked harder than he did to be chosen for this wonderful position. I am over the moon happy and proud, but wow, what a rollercoaster of a week; with a lot of change, fast!
There are essentially two types of changes; planned and unplanned. Planned change is a conscious choice or decision. This can include deciding to change your job, volunteer, get your driver’s license, or lay off the KFC and bulk up on the Kale salads. Unplanned or unforeseen change is an unexpected event or consequence of a circumstance. This might include illness, accident, divorce, or a layoff. It also might include falling in love, discovering a new best friend, or exploring a new career path or passion.
Fear is usually a big barrier to change. Planned or unplanned, many people resist change and put up barriers because they fear the unknown, and all that may or may not come with it.
This latest change in our family is a little of both; my son planned to try and find a job with this company, but none of us expected it to happen so soon. This morning at the airport I reminded him, as he reminded me when I dropped him off at university, that it’s not goodbye, its bon voyage - and the start of a wonderful new beginning.
As you journey through January and your new year resolutions I encourage you to embrace change, not fear it, as you design the storyline for your super awesome life.
Best wishes,
Jane
