Transition

Over the weekend, I spent some one on one time with my mother. She is in a wheel chair, lives in a “care” facility and has dementia. During our visit, she was in a period of clarity.

I asked her if she ever envisioned the day that her son, with mostly gray hair now, would be visiting her in a facility. She thought for a moment, and laughed. It was not a thing either of us had ever imagined.

This got me reflecting a bit, a period where you stop at a moment in time and look at reality. It strikes me, I have had a good life so far, but a life marked by major periods of transition. This current period may be the biggest one yet.

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity of speaking with each of my 4 children. Yet they are not children, each is an adult, and our conversations have certainly transitioned from when they were younger. Each is a unique person; each responsible for their own lives. I have learned how to let go, although I certainly still have opinions.

We are looking at making a geographic move from a major urban centre to a much smaller and rural area. I am looking forward to this transition. There is some uncertainty about the adjustment and sort of starting over again. I think this is natural, but also a sense of excitement.

Career wise ,I am making a huge transition and I think I’m finally getting my head around it. I was blessed in my early career. I rocketed up the “corporate” ladder and was the President of a major company by the time I hit 31. At 41 I ventured out on my own after turning down corporate moves to the US. I was fortunate, I started and sold two small companies and had great clients, a major one who stayed with me for 15 years. Then I contracted out to pump new life into a significant community organization. For the most part the results were spectacular, but I made a fatal mistake of thinking too big, and possibly believing my own press clippings. My contract ended at the call of the organization, the first time in my life this had ever happened. Shocking.

This caused a very major transition in life! I am truly thankful I have a higher power in my life and a “team” of people, some professional, some intimate friends, and some family, who have guided me through this huge transition.

It was a little frightening to wake up one morning and have no “real” work to do. It was a real reality check to see a guy who had always sort of been the “young” gun now at a point when he was the “older” guy. Transition.

I had done a lot of mentoring and coaching in both my business and personal life. I have always truly loved helping others, and my best feelings about careers past revolved around the growth of other people and team success. After a “time out” and lots of input, I made a decision to turn what I loved most about my past life into current vocation.

Again, a huge transition.

To get there and be a “professional”, I went back to school. Attending lectures, studying then writing a grueling 10 hour exam was certainly different, but a part of the transition. No one will ever know how grateful and happy I was when I got my final grade back and the sought after certificate as a certified coach, complete with gold seal. A major step in the transition.

And there is more going on. All transitional.

I am so grateful that I chose a journey that was life altering some 14 years ago. Addictions were a sign of difficulty, but the real problem was living a balanced life that gave true joy. Even with the setbacks that have occurred over the time, the last 14 years have given me more internally than I ever imagined possible, and the journey continues. I am in another major transitional period, but with a skill set given me by the journey that makes transition and optimism possible. The opportunities of a balanced life focused on helping others through coaching truly is exciting. No one loves uncertainty, yet as I face new challenges, I know I am not alone, and have a spiritual connection that keeps me focused on the path ahead.

In a funny way, the weekend chat with my mother was an eye opener, a real reality check. I write this as a message of hope for others and myself. We will all face major transitions, but by acquiring the proper tools, and with the proper support, each transition will lead to new and more exciting things, progress and not perfection.

I truly look forward on a daily basis to using my gifts to help others through their periods of transition, and am thankful for the transitions I have gone through and continue to go through!

Tags: Certified Life Coach Life Transition Results