tranˈziSH(ə)n, tranˈsiSH(ə)n/

noun

noun: transition; plural noun: transitions
1. the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.

Last year I had a major life transition. Then a few months ago I had a transition to a new house in a new town. In fact, this was the third move in two years. At the same time, I  transitioned back to work after being “retired” for a year. This week I learned my job will include yet another transition. I’m realizing that perhaps transition has been happening all along. Perhaps transition is always happening. 

The more I thought about it, the more I remembered how many different experiences I’ve had with transitions. How very differently I felt about each one. From excitement to fear, and every place in between. Some transitions are simultaneous. Right now there are at least three transitions happening in my home. And I’m realizing that I’m not feeling excitement, fear and every place in between, I’m actually feeling several things all at once. 

Transitions are tiring, even when they’re energizing they’re tiring too. Sometimes I just want to be quiet, be settled and routine, bored even. If I am will I get stuck? Fat? Old? Die? Apparently I’m not called to be comfortable. 

So when things are changing, how should I react or respond? Which feeling will I embrace or reject? Will I ignore them, or will I allow them? And if I do, what then? 

The reality is, we all live in transition of some kind or another. Some are predictable, and others are completely random; some are short and some are drawn out over time. How we handle transition pretty much depends on the perspective we take. And we can actively choose what we do with them. Kind of like one of those books where you get to decide the story when you answer to a question determines which page you go to next.   

So if you’ll excuse me, I’m headed to page 16. No chance of rigor mortise here.

What’s your transition position?