MAKING CHANGES

As we gear up to create a map for our personal Adventure in Aging, let us do a bit of reviewing of the things we've had to change as we've meandered along through life. And yes, some of the changes we've had to make were done so only after several tries at going on without making the necessary change we were facing.  If we survived this period then we must count ourselves lucky, and be grateful for living long enough to actually accomplish what we needed to do.

You may begin by remembering changes as "simple" as having to exercise every day to keep your sore back from creating havoc in your life, or as difficult as giving up your cherished running program because your knees developed severe problems. Whatever the changes are that you remember, be they life changing or just needed at the time, you want to note that as these various challenges came up, you just eventually did what you had to do.  When it comes right down to it, we've all weathered changes of many kinds, and come out the other side doing the best we could with it all.

 It may help you to ask yourself these questions to prime your memory about changes you've made:

1. What is your usual response to making changes in your life?

2. What kind of changes have proved the most challenging for you?

I'm also going to suggest that you make a list of the changes you've accomplished, and save it! You will find that consulting this list will be of help in shoring up your confidence in yourself when you are facing yet another change that is necessary, but perhaps unwelcome and difficult to imagine surviving.