March NEW Beginnings

Learning a new skill

What skill? Why do you have to learn it? Do you have a deadline? Is it on your own? Do you have a teacher? What emotions do you have in reaction to having to learn this skill? How does it feel learning it?

Making a new friend

What’s your friend’s name? Where did you meet? What do you have in common? What did you find interesting about this new person? What are you cautious about?

Getting a new job

What is the new job? Do you have a title? Did you choose the job or were you sought out? What excites you? What makes you nervous? Is this a big goal or a stepping stone? Is it a side-hustle?

Going back to school

What’s the name of the school? What are you studying? Is it book study or hands-on? Do you have any knowledge or experience in it this already? Why are you doing this? Is it expensive? Are you getting financial help? What support is missing that will help you be successful? How long will this take?

Meeting a new love interest

What’s this person’s name? How or where did you meet? How long have you known each other? What were you looking for? When’s your next date? What’s a dream date you would like to have? What’s something about this person that you were drawn to immediately? What is making you pause?

Traveling to a new city

What city? How did you get there? How long did it take to get there? Why did you go there? Are you traveling alone or with others? How long will you stay there? What do you plan or hope to do there? Is this the start of a regular destination or a once-in-a-lifetime experience?

Gaining a new family member

What’s this person’s name? Is this person a new baby, someone who joined the family by marriage or a significant relationship, or a DNA test surprise?  How do you feel about this new addition to the family? How often will you see this person? What kind of relationship would you like to have with this person? What will you need to do to help that happen?

Empty Nester

Your child or children have all moved out. It’s just YOU. Now what? Dance around the house with the music blaring? Repack everything they left behind? Sit in their room just looking around, remembering everything you can? Miss them terribly? Thank the stars above you never have to wake them up for school again? What does it feel like? What kind of new relationship do you want to have with them? How will you choose to live your life now that they are no longer one of your primary daily responsibilities?

Anything you don’t want to happen yet

Life happens whether you choose it or it chooses you, or just the way it goes. Sometimes change happens and we’re not ready just yet, we want to hold on to what was a little longer, we want to enjoy it more. But we don’t always have this luxury.

Coming back together after conflict

After an argument, struggle, or just head-on conflict, the next time coming together is often filled with tension. Is it over? How do you move past it? How long will it persist? Is it avoidable in the future? Are there wounds to heal?

Rototilling the garden

A patch of overgrown weeds pulverized into dark soil ready for another season. A rototiller is no joke! It’s a powerful machine!  And the cleaned up area smells of wet dirt. Mapping out what to plant and where. What else do the plants need to grow? A trellis? A tomato cage? Is there still threat of frost?

Going to the beach

The promise of water, the sound of waves and birds. It’s a feeling of beginning to me. If it’s the ocean, the salty air is the best.

A dramatically different climate

In a matter of 48 hours, I went from Wisconsin winter, to Louisiana fall, to Caribbean summer. My body went into shock.

A new kind of music

The fist time I heard Caribbean-African music I was very confused. It was so different than anything I had ever heard. I didn’t realize it was contemporary. At first it all sounded the same. Over time, I learned to hear the nuances.

A new song that strikes your core

Every once in a while, there’s a new song that stirs strong emotions, usually melancholy, but sometimes just joy. I have to move my body, sway or dance, or try to sing along.  These are the songs I can listen to on repeat for a ridiculous amount of time.

A new sport

Two left feet, all thumbs, heavy, awkward, slow, confusing, sore. Exciting, curious, watching others. Competitive. Recreation.

A new home

When we move, the space is different, how we arrange our belongings is awkward for a bit. Not everything fits, or there are voids to be filled.

A new school

The building, the space, the people, the leadership. It’s exciting, confusing, frustrating. It’s new. It’s promising. It’s just like any other school.

Change for your loved one

This is something that impacts someone you love directly, but not really you. You can only be a supportive role. Your loved one has to walk the path. How will you manage yourself and your supportive role?

Losing your best friend

This could be because your best friend passes away, but it could also be because the relationship ends.  Either way it’s painful.

A new food

Anticipation of excitement or trepidation will impact your experience. New flavors are not always appetizing.  And sometimes its Ah-Mazing! More of this please!!!

A new in-law family

A new in-law family is overwhelming. All the quirks become repeated. The dynamics make more sense. And this is now a part of your life, your family.

A new home that you choose

People call it their dream house. They pick it out carefully over time or have it built to their specs.

A promotion

You’ve worked your arse off to get here. Now what? How will you manage the learning curve and new responsibilities?

A new playmate

Adults sometimes choose to be playmates, lovers, instead of traditionally recognized roles.  There is an excitement without the typical responsibilities.

Getting fired from a job

Whether it is based on performance or company failures, it’s a tough transition. Now what? What did you learn? Will you follow the same direction or try something new?

Safe housing for a parent

As our elders age, sometimes it is no longer safe for them to be alone. They might fall, they might not be able to physically care for themselves or their homes anymore. They may be losing cognitive abilities.

Death of your young child

A friend of mine lost her young child due to a congenital birth defect that doctors were not able to repair. It was heart-breaking. Going home to her family without her toddler was the start of a new chapter filled with a void.

Painting a room in your house

Painting is a lot of work! But then it looks GREAT! Refreshes a space, gives a feeling of new.  I love it!

A new car or furniture

Whether it’s new or used, it’s new to you! Fresher, cleaner, no broken parts or bits. Just fun!

A new illness with a lot of uncertainty

We don’t get invitations to some illnesses. Especially the really serious surprise attacks. So now what? What strength do you have, do you need, or will you seek out in others to get through this?