Every Moment is a Transition
Change is a good thing. But, sheesh, enough already.
Last year, I retired from a job I held for 36 years and am devoting myself to Blocks of Life full-time. I’m still in the midst of that transition, but I’m barely making the top five in terms of the transitions around me. My wife is retiring next week, my mother is turning 90 (also next week), and my son recently began his first full-time job. Needless to say, parties abound, and I’m just trying to keep up. Transitions are the specific manifestations of an evolving life. Although they can cause anxiety and are not always thought of in a completely positive light, they should always be celebrated.
Recognizing a transition
My wife is receiving many interesting sentiments about her retirement, such as, “You’re too young to retire.” “This is what you do—what are you going to do now?” and “But you’re invested in this.” Some of these are well-meaning. Some are driven by panic about her leaving (she’s very good at what she does). She didn’t want a party, but retirement parties are less about the retiree and more about allowing others to celebrate the person’s career and accomplishments. So she is having two parties (one for work people, one for others). Yes, she is having parties.
My Mom’s 90th is also a cause for a (huge!) party and the chance to come together and celebrate her long life and influence over the years. She is beloved (and I’m not just saying that because she’s my mom), and so the biggest challenge for this party is coming up with a guest list that doesn’t require a stadium but still includes the people who she means the most to and who mean the most to her. The party includes people she’d known since she was a child and people she’d met in the past five years.
What is a transition?
Is a birthday really a transition? Some certainly are. A “milestone birthday” is still just a number, but it generally marks an important phase of life. Turning 18 and becoming an adult, turning 40 and reaching middle age, and turning 65 and reaching retirement age are all examples of birthdays that are also milestones. It might seem a little morose to include 90 in this list—what is the transition here? It’s a mark of celebration—a milestone of living and celebrating that life.
In a sense, every moment is a transition. Each moment is a doorway from the past to the future and an opportunity to evolve and grow. When we celebrate a milestone transition, we celebrate its significance. We have a chance to examine the journey between the past and the future and reflect on how we want to shape our future moments.
Transitions are the milestones in an evolving life. Acknowledge them and celebrate them—reflect on what they mean to you and what they mean for your personal growth. Go through your doorway with enthusiasm and your eyes wide open.
