Just a short post to let you know that change will often show up on your doorstep like out-of-state relatives you haven’t seen in a long time.
I have a friend who knows this type of change. Lisa Nowak’s a former amateur stock car racer. Not an easy career choice for a woman. So when age and sponsorship became more demanding than hurtling in ovals with her bumper inches from another car, she quit to write books. Her stories are about kids in hard luck situations who eventually learn to appreciate their own value.
I find that inspiring. I know many of you are writers…so maybe it gives you a moment of hope, too. In this season when demand revs our mental motors, nothing goes as expected, and Change leans on the bell and kicks at the entryway—we can fling that door open without dreading the 3-day visit from Cousin Gordon.
Lisa's Latest Novel for Young Adults
A squint-eyed look at what’s standing on the other side makes it look more like opportunity. It’s the chance to write a great blog. A hilarious article. A Pulitzer winning novel.
So go to those office parties with people you can’t stand. Invite annoying relatives and their spastic colon puppies to your home.
Lisa assures me…it’s the fodder of your next career change waiting on the doorstep.
Before Morning Breaks 
I adopted this attitude this year. It had been many years since I had been to any holiday event at my in laws. I went this year with only one purpose in mind, to walk away with a story. As we thanked them for the evening and walked to the door, my MIL watched me walk to the car. She calls out are you ok? I say yes and get in the car. Hubs asked what is wrong with you I said , Just kicking myself in the butt for thinking they could do anything remotely funny. He looked at me a second then said, well that little tic you developed walking to the car was funny as hell.
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Oooooohh!! Mr. Bowl of Kibble has a funny bone doesn’t he?
I’m with you though sister! We all should develop a support group for dealing with annoying family members. Trade cell phone numbers for events like….
“You’ve got to talk me down!!! I’m about to tell my in-laws where to go and it’s not anyplace on this earth.”
“Let’s take a deep breath. Breathe with me. We’ll get through this and blog about it someday.”
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A real inspiring post. When we are tired of doing a thing or when we reach a point of realization that, we are not good at what we are doing or this is not what we born do, life takes us to a completely different path. This post is a perfect example of it. Thank you for this post.
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You’re welcome. It makes me wonder how long we’re willing to stick with something just because it’s too much work to find something else to do? And fearful….and exciting.
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I hope to emulate the resilience my mother displayed in life. I don’t mind MOST change. The change I do mind gives me compassion for those who dislike it.
Being a writer and knowing the endless possibilities every human presents does help with being around less than loved company. However, I lay claim to the boundary that when time says get our of there, I will give myself the freedom to go! 😀
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Yes, Soul dipper, but we’re talking about relatives staying at YOUR house. When time says to skedaddle…do you help them pack their bags and carry them to the car?
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Fishing for piranahs, catching lawn trout.
I don’t welcome change. I tend to roll into a little ball like a bug and let change grind its way over me. Survival is a daily pleasant surprise.
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Let us Pill Bugs unite. Perhaps if we’d diet and flatten more along with the lawn trout, the change would hop over us instead of grind?
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What’s even more amazing than changing careers, and there are more on LIsa’s dossier, is that she gives 150% to EACH career. Simultaneously. Loving the latest book.
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Beth, there are a few math majors on this blog who’ll inform you 150% is outside the realm of possibility. But,I just had a discussion with a physics major who tried to explain Schrodinger’s cat…who might be simultaneously dead AND alive. Quantum mechanics???? What are those guys drinking?
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Thanks for featuring me, Barb. 🙂
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It was my honor, Lisa. Keep writing and inspiring all those young adults (and old adults, too)
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I’ve never been a huge fan of change. You could say, if it came banging on my front door, I was more than likely to meet it with a shotgun in hand and tell it to bugger off. Not a fan at all. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more philosophical about changes, and have even learned to embrace them. Just because Thanksgiving and Christmas have always been celebrated here at our house doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed passing the responsibility on to the next generation. Time for THEM to do all the cooking and preparations, while I … play with the grandchildren. Yup. Some change is definitely good.
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YOu make a great point. All that cooking and decorating does require a need to pass the torch, then run before they can hand it back. And I’ve just got to learn to tell people to bugger off. It sounds so much nicer than the phrase I use.
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You are a prize my friend. When are you going to write a book? Margie
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In the works, Margie. Thanks for caring enough to ask.
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When I “retired” I was amazed at the opportunities…fun choices…that came my way. I love IT’s comment “Makes us believe that there is a divine force out there that loves us and wants us to be happy and be successful.” Yep…time and time again, I see this to be true. I have wondered what all this writing will come to. Originally I planned to collect stories for a self-published book for the family…to be shared with siblings, children, cousins nieces and nephews. Still have stories to tell, so maybe next year. How inspiring that your friend quit her job to write…and published! Oh my.
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Just inspiring my friend. Sometimes when we think our world is down , and what once we’re good at, we can no longer perform, a new door and opportunity opens. Makes us believe that there is a divine force out there that loves us and wants us to be happy and be successful.
One day I hope to have a small clinic that helps the poor, that I don’t have to work because I need it to pay the rent. I hope to do something that makes a difference in this world. I wish for us and our families a life of happiness and dreams that come true everyday. Happy holidays!!!
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You have such interesting stories Island Traveler. I hope the dream of your clinic comes true. And I’ll tell you a secret….you already make a difference in the world with your messages of hope and reminders to at the world with wonder. Thanks for the joy.
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Your reply came at such a perfect time. I’d just gotten a piece of crummy news which I don’t want to share here, but I needed the reminder…”there is a divine force that loves us.” Here’s a big hug of thanks.
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Just at this lazy stage, I am not sure I welcome change. And am certain I would not welcome relatives arriving on my doorstep. Your friend sounds like an amazing woman though. There is a reason that biographies, letters and autobiographies are among my favourite reading. Entertaining, educative, and frequently inspiring.
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You and me E. C. They have to push me through the portal of change kicking and clawing on the door frame. Of course, after I get on the other side, I clear my throat. Straighten my clothes and decide…maybe…just maybe it’ll be all right.
And yes, a good biography is really inspiring. I’m already working up the lies for mine.How does the chapter…”Fishing for Piranhas” sound?
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WOW! You fished for Piranahs? I’m amazed! What did you use for bait? Your hand?
I totally buy it. I am working on pumping up my memoirs right now!
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