Transitions

This entry is likely to change periodically. Life has been much more relaxed since I made my decision, and I'm excited about what's to come. But, I know I can't relax for long. I've already registered for several standardized tests which, I have to admit, have cost a bundle. I need to study for the exams, think about moving to another state and all the logistics that go along with that, purchase a new wardrobe of professional clothes (I jettisoned my previous collection of slacks and shirts when I left my last full time job), and I'm sure there is a bevy of other tasks to be faced in the coming months.

Transitions are always difficult. Giving up what's familiar for something new, foreign. But they're equally important. Acknowledging that helped make my decision to leave San Diego easier. I absolutely love this city and I consider it more my home than the city I grew up in. But I don't want to be sitting in my rocking chair 50 years from now wondering what I missed out on because I was afraid or unwilling to leave behind a familiar life.

It's something we talk about a lot in experiential education settings. And, rock climbing is a perfect metaphor. We often come across huge, comfortable holds that provide us with security and a place to rest, physically and mentally. But, until we let go of that hold, we'll never move towards our goals, we'll never have a chance to reach the summit.

I find myself looking towards a largely unknown future but also drawn to the events around me: I'm training for my black belt test at Sunset Cliffs Aikido and I'm trying to help others as they work towards their next tests, too. In a sense, I'm in two different places at once, yet not entirely in either. It's a powerful paradox and I anticipate the next few months to be both liberating and frustrating.