I think another great tool for your tool kit is this: don’t be afraid of change.  I think that many times in our lives when we get hit with unexpected news or a change in the direction we have been traveling on we fight and resist the change.  Are you struggling with or resisting some change right now in your life?  I blogged yesterday about my men’s memoir class and I have to admit that I struggled with the concept for awhile.  When I was approached last year about teaching men, I said “nope.”  It is amazing what the universe brings your way when you are resistant to change.  It all began last November when I began teaching the Writing for Wellness class at Eisenhower Hospital, a mixed group of both men and women.  Then last January I co-taught a 6 week course at Sun City Shadow Hills for both men and women.  I guess the universe was being gentle with me in leading me into another amazing group.  I am grateful for the opportunity I have to teach both men and women.  Friday, the amazing Stevie Nicks was here in the desert and one of her songs that is my favorite is Landslide.  I love to listen to it and let it remind me to be grateful for the “landslides of change” in my life.  If you are not familiar with the lyrics I included them, you can also visit youtube.com and see her performing this amazing song:

I took my love and I took it down
I climbed a mountain and I turned around
And I saw my reflection in the snow covered hills
Well the landslide brought me down

Oh, mirror in the sky
What is love
Can the child within my heart rise above
Can I sail thru the changing ocean tides
Can I handle the seasons of my life

Well, I’ve been afraid of changing ’cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I’m getting older too
Well…

Well, I’ve been afraid of changing ’cause I built my life around you
But time makes you bolder
Children get older
I’m getting older, too
Well I’m getting older too

So, take this love and take it down
 and if you climb a mountain and ya turn around
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well the landslide brought me down
And if you see my reflection in the snow-covered hills
Well maybe
Well maybe
Well maybe the landslide will bring you down 

Examine in your life right now your seasons of change.  Are you in one right now?  Can the child within your heart rise above?  How have you handled your seasons of change?  Yes, you can rise above even the hardest of circumstances and come across those mountains in your life.  Spend some time in reflection today examining how well you have handled your seasons of change.