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LimitlessLessons

My life revolves around teaching lessons of some sort. Whether it was in my role as an Elementary School Counselor for eleven years, my current role working with kiddos and administrators K-12, mom to two young adults, or owner of two spoiled chocolate labs, I teach lessons all day long. But the most valuable lessons taught on a daily basis, are those taught to me; by my students, by my children, by my dogs, and sometimes even by strangers! And that's what this blog is all about...those limitless lessons that come out of nowhere, but stay with you forever.

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Shut the Door!

2/4/2013

6 Comments

 
Picture
A student was having a hard time adjusting to the higher expectations of first grade.  He was greatly displeased by the removal of nap time.  He thought we should all get naps!  I silently agreed, but said “Honey, things change”.  He replied, “Well, I don’t like it.”  You know what, me either. 

So much has been written about the good that comes from embracing change.  How important it is to close doors so others will open.  In fact, I have quotes taped all over my office to remind me.  I email them to friends, share them on Facebook and pin them on Pinterest hoping the notion that change is a beautiful thing will somehow seep into my pores.  It looks so good on paper!  The truth is, I don’t like change.  It’s hard.  It’s uncomfortable.  It’s unfamiliar, and many times, it’s just plain sad.  It IS hard to see the open doors when you are focused on the closed ones, but when the closed one is all you’ve ever known and you can’t see the open door, how do you make yourself pull away and walk towards uncertainty?

I admit…I am good at sabotaging door closings.  I put stops in the door so they won’t close.  I flip the latch so they won’t shut all the way.  I stick my foot in the door and hold it open with one hand, all the while trying to live my life and wondering why new opportunities are not coming my way.  But even for the hard core resistors like myself, it’s obvious change is inevitable.  NOTHING in my life has been able to escape change.  Not my jobs, not my relationships with people, not my children or husband, and especially not me.  Although I still struggle with embracing change in the moment, I can skim through the chapters of my life and everywhere I look, I see those open doors created by closing others.  Although it’s frightening, it can also be liberating.  And although I didn’t see it or appreciate it at the time, I know that in most instances, things worked out the way they should have.

I am resisting a lot of change in my life right now.  I am putting so much effort into juggling to keep doors from closing; I’m missing out on the exciting and wonderful opportunities offered by the open doors.  We don’t have to like change but we must accept it.  The definition of embrace says “to clasp or hold close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection”. Maybe if I treat change with more warmth and less fear, I will be able to embrace it in the moment.  Writing this article is my first step.  What’s your first step? Are there doors you need to close?   Change you need to embrace?  Comment here and share your experience with me!

“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live.” ~Flora Whittemore

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”    ~Andre Gide

6 Comments
Cindy Mize
2/6/2013 01:54:50 am

You are so right. I do the same, keeping doors open longer than they need to be.

Love your blog.

Reply
Paige
2/6/2013 02:28:04 am

Thanks for reading Cindy! Maybe we need to go get a bottle of wine and just go around slamming doors to get some practice! ;)

Reply
karin clark link
2/8/2013 03:13:40 am

Love the post! My perspective is without change life is boring. Two quotes on change that I believe:
"If we’re growing, we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” – John Maxwell
"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.” – Unknown

Reply
Paige
2/8/2013 04:30:33 am

Thanks Karin! Your support and encouragement has helped me open this door and I appreciate it!

Reply
Amy
2/2/2016 11:37:38 am

Another great blog that gets me thinking!

Reply
Paige
2/9/2016 07:50:34 am

Not sure which Amy this is but either way, thank you!!! 😘

Reply



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