I recently heard a woman mentioning a new phase in her life, a move, as “daunting,” “worrisome,” “nerve-wracking,” and “difficult.”

I heard her statements that reflected her truths.

I heard her comments that predicted her future.I heard her expression of sadness.

I heard all her words. But I’m not sure she heard them.

What about reuniting with old friends gives us an insight into personal growth?

Reunions inform us about how we currently perceive ourselves.  

I find it remarkable how just when we think we have everything under control, life throws us a setback.

The word “setback,” feels as though you are moving backward from your goal, vs. forwards. You might interpret a setback as the world saying, “don’t get too comfortable, stay on alert!”

Ever look at the irony of how the pain in practicing a new skill or behavior compares to the bliss in seeing its beautiful outcome? Most people I know don’t love spending an inordinate amount of time and energy working at becoming comfortable and proficient with something new. In our world today, everyone seems to be in a hurry to attain mastery.

The other evening, I was spending time working on a project. After a while, I felt I had hit a wall. My mind was crowded with many thoughts that inhibited my ability to freely think and create. I acknowledged at this point that I needed to stop. So, I closed my laptop and decided to wait until the next day to resume.

When children are asked to try a new activity, they often dive in headfirst. While they may experience some trepidation, they feel more excitement, anticipation, and glee. Adults on the other hand are significantly more skeptical when it comes to trying something new.

Working towards a goal is not always a simple process. Let’s face it, there are times when people feel impatient or frustrated if the journey becomes challenging. So, what to do at those moments?

There is a difference between planting a seed and moving the needle during a time of transition: one is the formation of an idea, and the other is the action that carries it forward. Both are beneficial for growth.

I like to think of my sixth sense as my second voice — my intuition. This voice knows me better than anyone. It is familiar with my experiences, interests, thoughts, fears, and goals. I know it is always there, and I’m aware when it is quiet, and when it is loud. In progressing through life, we can access our intuition to help guide and support us. It can help with the big and small life decisions we make. It truly is our trusted ally.

Have you ever noticed that when one thing breaks, it seems like so many other things start breaking, too? It is almost amusing (although at first annoying!) how I suddenly seem to have many appliances that need repair in our home. We are currently dealing with a misbehaving dishwasher, a faulty refrigerator, spotty WIFI connection, and uneven air conditioning. Granted, repairing appliances are small obstacles compared to the greater challenges facing the world today.

For Mother’s Day I received a beautiful gift from my family. For the next year I will be receiving a weekly email from a company with a surprise question for me to respond to. Each inspiring question asks me to reflect on some aspect of my life, my past experience, and my future ideas. At the end of the year, all of my responses will be compiled in a book for me to pass down to loved ones in years to come.

It is difficult celebrating happy events when things around us are sad and in flux. This past week, there were birthdays, Easter and Passover traditions, anniversaries, pregnancies, births, and opportunities, at the same time as there has been sickness, fear, and death. Life always brings a mixed bag of good times and bad, but the present pandemic has magnified this reality.