Transitions

Fall is my favorite time of the year. There is something about the hues of the season that are cheerful and bring back memories of hayrides, apple cider and running through the leaves. The colors of the changing leaves and cool crisp mornings instill in me a sense of comfort and happiness. When I was a little girl, I remember my grandfather and I debating the seasons and deciding which season was our favorite. I said my favorite was the fall, and he said he felt the fall was a time of things dying, so he preferred the spring. I guess there is some truth in that logic, but I never think about the leaves changing and falling as a dying process; to me it’s more of a time of transition. The tree is still very much alive.

This helps me to reflect on times of transition in my life. I just returned from a funeral in North Carolina of a beloved aunt. Although losing her brought such sadness to my husband and me, we were also able to be with her wonderful family who embody in so many ways her positive and infectious outlook on life. We shed tears, heard stories of childhood, and laughed a lot together. I am comforted by a belief that she is now with her husband, who died a little over a year ago. She will be missed and I’m sure there are more tears to shed but I am truly comforted by the time we had together.

Transitions in my life are sometimes exhilarating as I contemplate the newness of the experience. The possibilities of a different path can really open in me a sense of adventure and creativity. Every year the colors and possibilities of fall surprise and delight me.

Transition can also be painful and unearthing. Change, especially if not planned or timely, can shake me from my roots and remove those blankets of security I have gathered around myself. An example of an unplanned transition was when I experienced a job loss that was very painful. I must say that the job that followed was much more life-giving and rewarding, but at the time it brought up insecurities I didn’t know existed. I am fully aware that the spring did come for me as I experienced the death of something important to me. Certainly the understanding of the tree being still very much alive in me helped me to move through this time of loss. Keeping my tree alive through times of transition comes from having a strong faith in God, friends and family who support me, and the experiences of others who have been there.

The many years of transitions in my life have made me the person I am. Celebrations have kept my tree alive and exhilarated with possibility. Yet unearthing difficult transitions have probably taught me more about what is important in life and stretched me the furthest.

I pray that you will be gentle with yourself as you go through times of transition and that your colors will burn brightly and be a source of comfort in your life.

Peace and Blessings, Kay Higgins