Balance in Transition

Well, it's getting close. Less than 2 days before we leave.

The majority of the packing is done. Just the last minute things to put in our bags Tuesday morning.

it's. finally. here.

I found myself this morning holding my precious little niece and savoring the time with her and the rest of my family. Then my thoughts went to, "wow in one week I would love to be holding her again ... this is the last time I will get to spend this kind of time with her for a very long time .... I would love to have this meal again in a week, etc..."

During times like this, it is hard sometimes to know what to concentrate on.

Do you concentrate on squeezing every available emotion out right now, to "leave it all on the field" ?

Or do we concentrate on what's ahead? With the understanding that what we are leaving is incredibly dear and irreplaceable to us?

It's kinda like choosing to either focus on the present or the future.



I think many times in my life, when I have had to separate myself from family or 'things' or events in my life, I have focused on the present and tried to take it all with me emotionally.

I am kinda figuring out this time around that that's probably not the best approach, at least for me.

I think when I get caught up in all the emotion of not being able to be here ... with ones I love ...in a familiar place ... with things that work ... with food that we like, etc... etc... it only takes away from what is to come.

I have to savor the moments, but I can't allow those moments to steal away the joy of this great adventure.



That's a very fine line, though. It's hard to find that balance, but I think before now I was really out of balance on it and just caused myself more trouble and made it a more difficult transition.

This is just another way that we have been prepared for this move before now. I think if we had never moved 'away' before, or we didn't know what it was like to live on our own, this whole transition would be completely overwhelming.

The day after we were married, we moved to Florida. I had never lived outside of my Mom & Dad's home before and then all of the sudden, I get married and move 1,000 miles away. I also had to leave my Dad who was very sick with cancer. I had to go to his hospital room the day we left and say goodbye to him there. Now, that's hard. That's something no one wants to have to do.

I knew though that he didn't want me to 'stop' my life. He wanted me to continue and thrive.

I believe those experiences and times were ordered. We just never know how those very difficult things would actually benefit us later!

I appreciate this balance and this peace that comes with it. I don't have it all figured out, but right now I know that I feel more 'ready' for this transition than I ever have before.