Transitions

Transition... Are You Going Through One?

Transitions can be exciting, challenging, a little scary, and even unsettling—but they can also be some of the most rewarding experiences of our lives.

I've recently completed a major transition, and along the way I discovered tools and insights that helped me navigate the changes with more clarity and purpose.

Over the next several posts, I'll be sharing my journey, what I've learned, and the lessons that helped me embrace this new chapter.

One of those transitions has been redefining my business and creating a space that better reflects my passion for healing, mindfulness, and personal growth.

I'd love for you to join me on this journey. Follow me on Facebook, on Instagram, or visit my website, and let's grow through life's transitions together. 📷

Transition... Continued

Like so many others, COVID changed everything. It brought my business to a standstill just as life was taking an unexpected turn.

As the world slowly began to reopen, my husband underwent emergency heart surgery to replace three valves. What followed was a difficult two-year recovery journey. He spent more time in the hospital than at home ending with three months in the ICU before passing away, just two days after our 38th wedding anniversary.

Talk about a season of transition.

Suddenly, I found myself without my business, without my life partner, and completely exhausted—mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I asked myself the questions so many of us face after a life-changing event:
Now what?
What do I want to do next?
Who am I now?

Then I remembered something that has carried me through many seasons of life:

Change, of any kind—requires courage.

Sometimes courage isn't taking a giant leap. Sometimes it's simply getting up one more day, taking one more step, and trusting that a new beginning is waiting on the other side.

If you're navigating your own transition, know that you're not alone. In the coming posts, I'll continue sharing the tools, lessons, and moments of hope that helped me find my way forward.

Transitions – Continued

So, I'd acknowledged that I was in a major transition and recommitted to having the courage to change. But what was my next step?

The Cup and the Quart.

While studying Lomi and Somatic Bodywork, one of my teachers shared a simple but powerful concept.

Imagine the cup you're holding represents everything your life is right now. The quart represents everything your life could become.

Sounds simple enough—just reach for the quart and let go of the cup.

Not so fast.

The quart is on the other side of the unknown. To reach it, you must first release the cup. You have to let go of what's familiar before you can embrace what's possible.

That's where courage truly begins.

Many people turn back while crossing the unknown because they can't see the entire path ahead. But transformation doesn't require seeing the whole journey. It only asks you to trust yourself, trust your guides, and keep asking one simple question:

"What's my next step?"

One step at a time, you begin crossing into a new life.

This is where real transformation happens. Long-held fears are faced. Old beliefs are questioned. Hidden strengths are discovered.

Although this is a journey only you can take, you don't have to travel it completely alone. The right people often appear when you ask for help, when you feel stuck, or when fear seems to stop you in your tracks.

Having walked through my own transitions, I can tell you this: the journey is worth it. I truly love the life I'm creating today.

Follow along as I continue sharing the tools, lessons, and insights that helped me reach my own "quart." Perhaps they'll help you reach yours, too.

Transitions – Continued

As I continued my journey through this transition, I realized my next step was to address something I had been ignoring—my complete exhaustion.

The cause was obvious. I had spent years caring for my husband through his illness. By the time he passed, I was physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually depleted.

I decided that my physical well-being had to become my first priority.

It was time to take the same advice I had given my own clients for years: listen to your body.

So, I began taking inventory of what my body was asking for and honoring those needs. I turned off my alarms. I went to bed when I felt sleepy. I took naps without guilt. I ate when I was hungry. I rested when I needed rest.

In other words, I gave myself grace.

I also began questioning my daily habits:
Are they still working for me?
Do I still need them?
Do I even want them?
Are they supporting the person I'm becoming?

Some habits I let go of. Others I changed. And I intentionally created new ones—especially those that brought me joy.

Little by little, day by day, my energy began to return. My exhaustion slowly lifted.

Our bodies hold incredible wisdom and have an amazing capacity to heal when we slow down long enough to listen.

Sometimes the most healing thing we can do is simply give ourselves permission to rest.

Transitions – Continued

After several weeks—actually, a few months—of paying attention to and honoring what my body needed, my energy slowly began to return.  I finally had enough energy to turn my attention to the other parts of my life and ask, “So now what?”

What else did I need or want to address? What did I want to do? Did I want to re-establish my business?  I knew I could no longer do the massage therapy part of my business because of carpal tunnel surgery, but I truly missed working with clients. So, what could my business look like now?

Once again, I found myself questioning everything.  I've discovered that asking yourself questions is a huge part of transitions. Even more important is listening to and acting on the answers you receive.  Again, trust the process and give yourself grace.

While my physical energy was returning, my mental, emotional, and spiritual energy was still deeply depleted. I knew I needed support, so I found an energy practitioner and we began the work together.

Sometimes, we simply need to ask for help. And there is courage in that, too.

If you're navigating your own transition, know that you're not alone. In the coming posts, I'll continue sharing the tools, lessons, and moments of hope that helped me find my way forward.

 Transitions – Continued: Grief
Today (August 25) marks three years since my husband passed away—the event that launched me into the latest and perhaps most profound transition of my life.

Grief is a strange process. It is also incredibly multi-layered. Most days, I’m doing really well. Then a day like today arrives, and the depth of grief can wash over me all over again.  Early in my journey, I realized I wasn't just grieving the loss of my husband, my best friend, and my partner. I was also grieving the life we shared—the lifestyle we created, the dreams of traveling and exploring together, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

But somewhere within that grief, something unexpected happened. It opened the door to a new path. I began transitioning into a new lifestyle, creating new dreams, and redefining my business into something I truly love.

Grief has taught me to give myself grace. To allow myself to fully feel the sadness rather than push it away. To experience its depth, listen to what it has to teach me, and then allow it to move through me. I've learned that healing doesn't mean forgetting or letting go of the person we loved. It means learning to hold onto the love and the lessons while releasing the hurt, sadness, and pain.

For me, grief is a process that needs movement, not stagnation.  Some days the movement is forward. Some days it feels like going backward. And some days, like today, it simply means stopping, feeling, remembering, and allowing the tears to come. And that's okay.

Three years later, I still miss him. I always will. But I also carry everything our life together taught me—and I am learning to embrace the life that is unfolding now.  Healing isn't about moving on. It's about learning how to move forward while carrying the love with you.

Transitions – Continued

After the last few posts about grief, I’m returning to my Transitions series.  One thing I’ve learned is that transitions often come with side roads. Grief was one of mine. These side roads are not necessarily setbacks—they’re part of the process.

In fact, side roads can be some of the most enlightening parts of the journey. They give us an opportunity to:

Check in on our progress
Find our courage again
Let go of what was so we can make room for what will be
Dream about new possibilities
Re-evaluate where we’re going and why

And sometimes, a side road is simply a rest stop.  A place to pause, look back at how far we've come, take a deep breath, and enjoy the scenery.

Not every moment of transition requires action. Sometimes we just need to stop, reflect, and appreciate the journey.  Then, when we're ready, we continue down the road—one step at a time.