I’m looking down at the paper in front of me. I can’t look up at any of my fellow teammates. My eyes are burning… I want to cry. My ears are ringing… I can’t do this. I see the new program changes in front of me and an overwhelming crushing feeling fills my chest. Effective September 1st:

• I will no longer be working with toddler-aged children.
• I will no longer be working with the same team members.
• I will no longer be working in the same physical space.

I can’t handle this. I’m barely coping with returning to work and not even a week later I’m given this news? How can I be expected to cope? How WILL I cope?

The quote on the paper is like a slap in the face….

Courage is the power to let go of the familiar. ~Raymond Lindquist

Then it goes on to say….

“What is familiar is comfortable. Even though the familiar might be worse that the unfamiliar, we still tend to hold on to it, because going into the unknown is uncomfortable. Having the courage to go into the unfamiliar can be tough, but not impossible. It requires a shift in perspective. Become curious. Become an explorer of life. This is an adventure.”

I still can’t look up from my paper. Tears are stinging my eyes. I keep telling myself… don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.

“Courage is the power to let go of the familiar.”

I guess I’m a coward….

It’s been two weeks since I returned to work after a year-long maternity leave. It’s been one week since I heard this news. It’s been tough but something has happened to me over the past few days… Effective September 1st:

• I’m going to be working with preschool-aged children!
• I’ll be working with a whole new team who possess completely different gifts and talents!
• I’ll be working in a new room which I can help set up and redesign!

There’s been a shift in perspective.

I live in a country where I get to see and enjoy four seasons… each season is distinct and beautiful. Change needs to happen for those seasons to take place. My absolute favourite place is the mountains… those majestic beauties would not be here if it weren’t for change.

Every phase of life with my daughters is my favourite; newborn, infant, toddler… they need to change for me to enjoy all these ages and stages with them.

A friend recently shared with me, “Life shrinks and expands in proportion to one’s courage.” ~Anais Nin

Right now, I see my life expanding… and this, dear friends, excites me.

Jennifer Bly

Author of My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to Homeschool and creator of The Deliberate Mom. Jennifer writes about parenting, homeschooling, her faith, and life with her husband and two girls. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Applied Human Service Administration Degree with a specialization in Early Learning in Child Care.