Dying - Grieving - Living

I wrote that title for my transition after the death of my husband five years ago. I felt it reflected my actual journey through his dying, my grieving and the hope of living again. However, as I've continued observing, studying and teaching about transition, I've come to realize these elements are part of every transition we make.

There is a dying to what has ended. Then we must fully pass through the grieving, feeling the highs and the lows. As we return to living we discover a new beginning often means another transition. And so it goes ... we move forward with wisdom gained only to find a new situation that has lessons to be learned.

Transition is the transforming process of change. There are several words in that statement that we'd just as soon do without. Words like transition, process, change, and even transforming. I was quite happy the way I was, thank you very much!

Sometimes we go through change without making the transition. However, we remain unchanged. And while we think that's okay, we soon discover others are moving in new directions without us. Sometimes we go through change angry, but that only leaves us bitter. Sometimes we enter transitions hopeful, but not quite sure what we're hoping for. If we're unable to define it, we most likely won't recognize it.

So how do we make the full journey each time change presents a new opportunity? It's a really good question that deserves a proper answer. Let me think about it, pray about it and get back to you.

A New Beginning

One of God's great promises is a new beginning. He is faithful to allow us new opportunities day after day. This blog represents a new day and a new beginning for me. When I first began my Transition to Transformation workshop, it was focused on individuals coming through a specific change in life into the next season. As I've studied and observed transition, I see that's the microscopic view. There is much to be learned and gleaned from the transition process. The first lesson is to understand it is a process. The current situation will change, but the process will continue. This is true of individuals, families, and all types of communities.

We're all in this together so please join me as we begin again ... it's never too late! God promises!