Photo Credit: DrGBB

Spreading Our Wings (Once The Nest is Empty)

When our babies come into our lives, we are mesmerized. We become so head-over-heels in love we hardly know what to do! We coo and smile and hold them tight — and it soon becomes difficult to imagine life without them.

Oddly enough … Not much of that changes! Even after they leave home! Especially with regard to that all-encompassing feeling of not knowing what to do!

But life goes on.

They leave the nest (sometimes more than once) and make their way into adulthood. We realize that our job has become outsourced; this can accompany a measure of uncertainty regarding what is next.

But life goes on.

Change is inevitable. And we have the choice: go along quietly or be dragged — kicking and screaming. (Most of us have experienced it both ways!)

So, what about steps we can take to facilitate change? To see beyond what we have known as familiar and begin to step out of our comfort zone?

1. Celebrate what is next! Feel as though there is nothing to celebrate? Change that: Google “empty nest adventures” and pick one!

2. Release your children to live their own lives. When they need you, they will call. And they will call. Be there.

3. Make an inventory of the activities that make you smile. Then, schedule time within your days to enjoy what you love to do!

4. Accept that change challenges us to live in a different way. Bid farewell to what was and dance with Today … And the possibilities of Tomorrow!

5. Journal, schedule time alone or talk with a friend in order to mourn your “job” loss. Allow yourself the joy of reminiscing, the freedom of releasing guilt and what-ifs, and the inspiration of dreaming!

Before we can truly embrace change, we must commit to look backward and forward at the same time … Personal assessment, forgiveness (toward self and others) and repentance (to change course) are essential elements as we advance in the direction of our dreams!