Change and Sadness
Several weeks ago Priscilla asked me what I did about being sad. I told her that sadness was part of the human experience and not necessarily negative. Today I got to find that out.
Change is coming, welcome change in an unwelcome manner but change. I’m excited about the change, sad about the way it happened though. I like change; in fact I thrive on change. It is not, however, without challenges. I felt the same way when I left home and joined the Woman’s Army Corp, when I got divorced, when I left teaching and when I returned to teaching. I feel excited, sad and overwhelmed with everything that needs to be done, mostly I feel sad.
I’m sad for the way this happened and sad for what I see happening to my profession. This change is the right thing, the best thing and I am buoyed up by the message I heard in meditation, “Be confident in my love for you.” But, I still feel sad. I feel sad for so many teachers who have lost their jobs, sad for the children who will pay the price, sad for the Gulf coast. I feel sad. I am not sad, I feel sad it’s a small difference. And I’m not letting the sadness open the door to negativity.
My ex-husband used to say, “Always leave with a good taste in your mouth.” The way you end one thing is the way you begin the next. The energy that you end something with carries you forward and can support you and set you up for success or it can create unnecessary problems. Endings and change and new beginnings are all part of the wilderness experience called being human. How you act and the choices you make during the process matter very much.
It’s not unusual for people to end something with hostility and blame because it makes it easier to leave. I was dating an adventure photographer from New Zealand who was a great guy until it came time for him to start getting ready to go back to New Zealand. When I asked him what was going on and he told me that it was hard for him to leave me so he was finding reasons to be mad at. During our conversation he suggested that we both decide what we each needed to make the inevitable ending better for both us. We made a choice to have a different ending because we could, because we and what we had was worth it.
Negativity does not make things better even if it seems easier at the time. We can make a different choice. We can choose to have a different ending. We don’t have to fall victim to conventional wisdom and expectations. We can choose. My favorite toast is, “Here’s to happy endings and new beginnings.” So, here’s to happy endings and new beginnings for us all.
i use a combo of shea butter and aloe vera moisturizer. Works great. I use shea butter on my lips, around my eyes and nose (dry areas), My father swears by vasoline.
p.s. I dropped your name on Gina's post, Barb. ;)
I read your blog because I would like to be a more positive person. I like the way you confront change. I usually don’t like change. I think because this is what I learned growing up. My family situation was good because I had a mom, dad, and brother in one home. However, I couldn’t do anything to please my mom. I was also afraid of her, she had a mean streak, was critical and only wanted things done her way. Now as a 64 year old adult, I make my own choices. At first it was scary. My mom went first then my dad about 4 or 5 years ago. I am now retired, and I am happy making my own choices. Sometimes, though, I lapse into my mom’s frame of mind. I know it isn’t right, but it happens. I would like to be more positive, stay in the day, and confront and do things that need to be done. I am a responsible person who is living comfortably. Florence12
I appreciate the response. I should clarify that I am not being positive I am merely eliminating negative people, thoughts, words and deed from my life.