I think for the majority of us, we are conditioned to believe that our lives "should" take a rather linear and narrow path, but, in my own lived experience, that could not be farther from the truth. Growing up, I believed (and to some degree, still come up against this belief) that I should have had everything figured out by some arbitrary age. What a disservice not only to myself, but to my family, and to a greater extent, humanity as a whole. My friends, we are not cogs in a wheel, with the same gifts and purposes. If we can allow ourselves to open up to the possibility that the twists and turns in life are never wrong or even a step backwards, we find space for wonder, play, and the ability to create with the flow of life instead of against it. Refusing to identify with and attach to the feelings and sensations that come along with perceived setbacks allows our nervous system to calm so that we can actually step into the opportunities that present in the chaos and uncertainty instead of defaulting to all familiar patterns of fight, flight, or freeze. It is in these times of chaos that the way forward is gently unfolding before us. Change is always hardest at the beginning (think healthy habits, budgets, a new job, even a new baby) which can cause our nervous system to go nuts with fear and grasping for the familiar. It is exactly here, that we are invited to pause, breathe, and trust the unfolding of life itself.
So, if you are anything like me and find yourself still finding your way at 43, know that you are not alone and you are exactly where you are meant to be.
xo
kim