transition — Blog — Athena Wellness

A few weeks ago, a friend reached out coordinate dinner at a new restaurant. My immediate reaction when I read the text was No! My response was so visceral that it gave me pause. This is a group of good friends whose company I’ve missed. What was going on?

The next day, I accepted the invitation and the five of us did have dinner last week. It was a perfect night to dine al fresco. As we were getting settled at the table, one of my friends casually asked, “What’s new?”

It took me longer than usual to gather my thoughts to that simple question. After a long pause I said, “Everything… And nothing.” She laughed and said, “I know exactly what you mean.”

It’s that kind of bewilderment that my friends, clients and colleagues have been describing - this sense that our social muscles have atrophied after a few years of being asocial. So, what’s the path of re-emergence?

Connecting with Inner Wisdom

One of my favorite wellness practices was unexpectedly born out of the pandemic restrictions in March 2020. In the early days of lockdown, I made it a point to walk outside on the trails that are near my home each day. I have kept up that practice each spring through fall and look forward to the first walks of 2022 in the coming weeks.

While I love to hike with others, my daily walks are mine alone by choice. It’s a way for me to practice deep listening – to the natural world and to myself. In doing so, I find I’m more surefooted when the uncertainty of change swirls around me. The more I walk in silence, the more I trust the guidance I receive. The more trustworthy the guidance, the more faith I have in my next step.

These walks rejuvenate me. Nature reminds me that the world is perfect just as it is and there’s an underlying rhythm and seasonality to all life, including mine. These walks remind me to keep my senses acute and my perspective broad. They remind me to be present and allow “what is” in this moment.

Embracing the Next Stage of Life

In a recent podcast episode, I interviewed Tedi Brunetti who introduced herself by saying, “I sing, I write, I play the drums. I have an album out. I’m doing music videos.” And then the 69-year-old added, “I’m a grandma, proud of it. I’m just moving on with this phase of my life in retirement.”

And so began an hour long conversation about living life in stages, aligned with what matters most. For Tedi, it was a journey from musician to mother to medical technician and then back to musician. She’s proud to give each stage of her life, whatever was important at the time, 200% of effort, living with no regrets. This is a woman who does not have a bucket list because anything she wants to do, she does.

It’s an inspiring way to live. And it got me thinking about how we typically transition between life phases. Why is it that we don’t always embrace what might be revealed when the dark red theater curtains are opened and we find ourselves on a new stage of life?

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