unfamiliar new residence, we're most likely to think of
winter: cold, bleak and endless. At some point any life
transition feels like being buried under a coat of ice,
hibernating through long, dark days. Hopefully we learn to
see the beauty of winter -- sun on the snow, clear air, the
bare outlines of trees denied their leafy cover-ups.
Spring gets promoted as a time of new beginnings -- and it's
a fragile season. Buds appear on trees, only to become
leaves in a matter of days. Cherry blossoms, forsythia, and
daffodils seem to last just long enough for us to learn
their names.
Spring also brings energy. Here in New Mexico, we're blown
about by winds. The dog races around the park like a young
puppy and the cats spend hours bird-watching.
Spring can be harsh. Frost can crush the brand-new blossoms
and a sudden snow will take care of next summer's harvest.
And you can be fooled. Just when you think it's safe to shut
down your heating system, pack up your parka and begin a
joyful summer of shorts-and-a-tee, you get a cold day. The
dog is thrilled -- but you're not.
You probably see where I'm heading with this. Often clients
seek out my coaching services after a long, hard job search,
or a long dry period of seeking customers for a new
business, or a frustrating effort to feel at home in a place
that remains hostile. They've glimpsed a taste of success: a
few nibbles to the resume, a few customers who seemed happy
but then disappeared, a smile from an icy neighbor. Now
they're really ready for summer.
Spring can be harder than winter. After slogging through ice
and snow, you're ready for warmth, and it never happens fast
enough. I remember living in cold climates -- Alaska,
Connecticut, Manitoba -- when a gray, cold spring seemed
like the last straw.
Inevitably, we do move on because the earth turns and life
goes in cycles. Longer days bring more sunlight to fight the
frost. Icicles start dripping and then one day we notice
they're gone and a dandelion sprouts on the front lawn. At
last!
Your experience of spring depends on where you lived up to
now -- literally and metaphorically. By midlife, some people
have experienced only summer. The first winter can be
terrifying. You don't own a parka and have no idea how to
shop for one. Boots? Gloves? Where do we start?
If you've been there before, it's easier to believe spring
is coming -- and you've learned some tricks to protect your
fragile new growth.
Need an extra boost to get through spring?
Talk to people who have been there. Find a coach
or counselor. Join a new group. Take the dog for a really
long walk. Devise your own Spring Festival.
And keep looking for glimpses of summer every day --
even when you had to pull your parka out of storage.
**********************************************************
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., works with midlife professionals
and business owners who want to escape their comfort zone
and move to a new adventure. Sign up for her weekly ezine:
http://www.movinglady.com/subscribe.html
mailto: cathy@... 505-534-4294
--
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Author, Career Coach, Speaker
*The Fast Track to Career Freedom*
http://www.movinglady.com
505-534-4294 mailto:cathy@...
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