Transitions

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes......

June is what I consider a transition month.

Out with school and in with summer break and living carefree light-long days.

In early June, many recitals, awards ceremonies, and graduation ceremonies are held.

This marks the culmination/celebration of all of the hard work children have incurred over the school year.

They've learned so much during those nine months, that it's time to polish that knowledge and show the world their shining talents.

All that is learned from September to June is wrapped up in Innisbrook wrapping paper, complete with bow.

This is an important transition. It is time to end this year's learning and begin anew next fall.

It occurred to me, this year in particular, that transitions are a necessary (and scary) occurrence.

Without transition, nothing is gained and life remains stagnant.

Transitions are SO difficult for me that I grump-a-lot with my (saintly) husband and (God-bless-them) children when I am on the cusp of a change.

I know that transitions are difficult for most people. That is why some people will stay in a despised relationship, job, [name your nemesis] rather than venture on into the great unknown. I am sure that you or a “friend of yours” has lived through the difficulty of that type of decision at least once.

It's June and my son just graduated from a school that he attended for 9 years.

Major life and minor life changes have happened to our family since the first day we began this 9 year journey.

Laugh lines have been formed.

Gray hairs have been concealed.

Beloved family members are no longer here.

What a bitter-sweet victory treat we parents ingested at the graduation ceremony.

Sweet to see the 27 kids say good-bye to each other, the faculty and the administration. Bitter(ly sad) to see the 27 kids say good-bye to each other and the faculty and the administration.

Perhaps Aristotle describes it best. "The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet."

I (and he) will miss everything that he experienced at the school.

It was a wonderful experience.

I have watched him grow from a first day kindergartner to a rising high schooler.

A majority of his life and 20% of my life have been lived while attending Westminster School.

But, the time has come for all good girls and boys to go unafraid to their next life adventure.

This transition to High School reminded me so much of my own transition to college from a High School that still evokes very fond memories of experiences and friendships. You can imagine that I am mushy, gushy and slushy at this passage.

For some reason that move from High School to college was not too scary for me. I think that I didn't know to be afraid. I really missed my High School friends (none finer), but was ready to embrace the next faze (pun intented).

After that, change got a little scary. My first auditing job...daunting. My first corporate accounting job...confusing. My first day at a non-profit....boring.

I then ventured into the baby raising (sometimes hair raising) experiment. The outcome of that endeavor remains to be seen....stay posted.

Now, I am venturing into building my own business empire (waist).

It's all change.

It's all scary.

It's all good.

This month, I have another change. It's inevitable, too.

I add another year to my age.

That's a change that SHOULD BE scary.

But, like everything else.....I embrace the change.....welcome it.

Time may change me, but I can't trace time.....

Without change there can be no intellectual, spiritual, or emotional growth.

So, turn and face the strange (even if you are just looking in a mirror)....feel free to put on your dance shoes.....and remember there is nothing permanent in life but ch-ch-change.....