Transitions of any kind are scary.  Moving to a new state is no exception.

No matter how nice a place it is, we each have our fears and apprehensions, moving forward.  Whether it’s feeling like a stranger in a strange land, the finality of what will probably be our final home, the distance from familiar things and people, the fear of aging without family around, or just culture shock (and sticker shock!), there are many factors to adjust to all at once.  No matter how well you’ve planned and anticipated, there are always unknowns.  And if you’re coming from a long history of difficult transitions and losses, it can be overwhelming.

I’m generalizing here, not to get into specifics, because transitions are a universal human challenge.  Each of us is going through some form of it as we speak.  We are not unique.

The bottom line is, you can feel very alone and isolated, unsure of what the future may hold, especially when your clock is ticking.  All you can do is proceed forward, seize the opportunity you’ve been given, and accept that there are no easy directions to follow.  You do your best with the limited resources you have, and try to find the balance between retreating and reaching out.  You treasure and make the most of what human connections you’ve been granted, however briefly, while also being honest about your limits and boundaries.  You admit you haven’t found the answer to life-the-universe-and-everything, and probably won’t, but you try not to just resign yourself to giving up.

I’m not going anywhere with this, in case you were hoping for something deep.  Just talking to myself, as one is wont to do.  To lighten up, here are some pretty flowers.

I wish I could have photographed the large beautiful hawk who was just sitting on the fence watching me mow the lawn yesterday.  It’s amazing how many fascinating species of birds there are here.  I keep myself going by planting things and observing wildlife in our own backyard.  It’s the best therapy I’ve found to take my mind off things.