If we embrace inevitable, we take control. If we fight it, we lose. No matter how much we whine, cry, or lament, our marriage will not go back to honeymoon, and our loved one will not return. Why not take punch out of tragedy by looking at it squarely in eye and making statement that this is our life, and while we don’t call all shots, we can and we will prevail.

As children, someone else is buffer between us and reality. They are there to explain, correct and to pick up pieces. As teenagers, our need for someone else to be there changes and we take on more responsibility. We become accountable for our actions and we suffer consequences or bask in glory. Then comes adulthood - time when we are totally in control or should be and we buffer others from what life sends.

Upon our golden years, we have been there and have done all that is required to reach this pivotal point. We were protected, we did protecting, and now we stand ready to step into that part of our life that gives us an opportunity to remember our past, live in our present, and plan for our future.

Wherever we are in life’s seasons, we should welcome it and learn all we can. We should brush ourselves off and look toward sky. If we just lie there, someone will have to walk over us, around us, or push us aside. They are on their journey in life, and we are in way. When we hit ground because of some unfortunate happenings, remember old adage - God made dirt, so dirt don’t hurt. Take a moment to feel your emotions, take account of your feelings, and look in past for clues, and in future for remedies.

Let’s all take a lesson from nature. If you can’t fight it, or change it, conquer it best way you can. Stand tall and walk into sunshine. The winds of change will chase away clouds and sun will shine. We can be ready for that next season, that next storm, that next happening in life. We are who we are, and therefore, we are best at being us. No one can ever even attempt to be who we are, let alone live our life.

When you have chance or opportunity, listen to a loon - you will carry that sound with you forever.

©Arleen M. Kaptur 2002

First and foremost, begin to set up your safety net. See http://www.movinglady.com/safety.html . Use company's resources to build your skills and network. Pay yourself first, in time as well as money. Spend at least two hours a day on You, Inc. project.

Want time off? Make a plan. Will you take two weeks, two months or two years? Commit to being free. Forget about planning your life purpose or dabbling in business ideas. See http://www.movinglady.com imeout.html.

However, even if you absolutely, positively hate your job, expect to feel a let-down when you begin to face empty days. Get yourself tightly scheduled with temporary jobs, appointments, or classes. Stay off couch. Don’t' lose momentum.

If you can't get going, or you keep postponing a meeting with a coach, you may be really, truly stuck. See http://www.movinglady.com/stuck.html for some suggestions to dig yourself out.

The journey will probably take longer than you anticipate. You will have some bizarre experiences, especially in beginning, but they eventually will be replaced by heart-warming encounters with warm, generous people. You will learn to transform wet blankets into comfort quilts. See http://www.movinglady.com/blankets.html.

Along way you will probably stumble on your life purpose, which eluded you while you were reading self-help books on couch.

Keep a journal faithfully. No one can predict where you will be in a year, but you will be able to look back and realize how far you have come. Drop me a line to share your story.