Change

It happens to everyone at some point. Change. It can be gradual or come out of nowhere like a semi-truck loaded with hazardous chemicals, razing your plans or life as you know it.

Accepting change, that's the hard part.

It's never easy, but necessary, I've learned. Some lessons easier than others.

Six years ago life as I knew it changed dramatically after a divorce. Fourteen years of marriage ended. After this, I had one bad experience after another, some too painful to even speak of let alone face.

Eventually, I ended up in way Northern Minnesota. A little house in the middle of nowhere, literally. This place was like a savior to me then. I had the balm of the forest, the trees, the wildlife, nature as a whole, to heal my wounded soul. Dramatic, I know, but I was truly lost and...broken.

Jump six years ahead and my refuge feels more like a prison.

My nephew now lives with us and with an eleven year old who needs the extras, I'm constantly driving somewhere. When you live 30 miles roundtrip from town, it's a burden to drive there nearly every day, sometimes twice. Two hours from Wal-Mart, from real civilization. Cub Scouts, after school programs, doctor's appointments, well, you get the drift.

My sister's death was shocking and we're all still recovering. It'll have been two years in December and it still feels like yesterday. I had to re-learn how to live with a preteen. I had to switch gears from empty nest syndrome to having a child to care for. Don't get me wrong, I love him with all my heart, but it's not easy. For any of us.

But, we love each other and we'll pull through.

There's one glaring obvious fact I've come to realize in all this. It's time to go home. Time to move back to Arizona. We have family there, I have friends. Letting go of the peace and serenity here will be difficult but I'm feeling ready for the change.

Ready to get involved in life again.

To stop being a shadow.

So, how well do you embrace change? I'd love to hear any advice or about anyone's coping mechanisms.

Have a great day,

Taylor