Change – it can be exciting…or scary. For me, in most cases, it’s frightening. I am a creature of comfort. I like knowing what comes next, what to expect. I am the girl who wants to know what happens at the end of a movie or what I’m getting for an anniversary gift.
This blog is about a side of me I have not yet spoken to – my career. My employer recently merged with another organization. So far, the pros are outweighing the cons which has made for a very smooth transition. There have not really been any noticeable changes so it’s been business as usual. The tides seem to be turning however and changes are rolling in. As someone who loves my job, my role and my manager, I cannot help but feel a little uneasy. The impending changes may be as discreet as a new person signing the checks (so to speak) or they could mean restructuring or department shifts. I really have no certainty as to what is in store but can only hope that the waves of change feel more like a splash than a tsunami. I know how to swim so I am confident I can weather through whatever may come but I am quite anxious to see which “shore” I wash upon! Hoping I don’t end up as a castaway…
Being a fan of routine and habit, I have a hard time jumping on board with the vision that our new leadership team has in the works. I like to think that they have everyone’s best interest at heart but being the worry wart that I am, I naturally fear the worst. It almost feels like what military “brats” might experience when they are suddenly uprooted from their home and friends. Thankfully, they usually bounce back by making new friends and discovering new cultures. The change brings a newfound appreciation for diversity as well as adaptability, well-roundedness and worldliness. Similarly, I may not understand or even like the looming changes but who’s to say I may not come out on the other side with stronger skills, more business savvy and experience that I might not have otherwise encountered. As intimidating as change might be, I choose to embrace it.
A friend of mine shared a quote that I thought was quite insightful (mind you, it’s from a rap song which makes the line both amazing and puzzling): “A chance is like a picture – it would be nice if you just take it!” Isn’t that true? You’ll never know unless you go for it. You may look back and hate the outcome, wishing you had never done it…or you might not. You might look back and wonder what took you so long to take the leap! I am really in no rush to make any sudden movements anywhere, as I am truly content where I am especially with the amazing manager and coworkers I have. Yet if everyone else is moving forward and the train is leaving the station, I do not want to be left alone on the platform waving goodbye. I certainly have no desire to be stagnant, so instead I will be eager and enthusiastic!
On an intertwined side note, I want to take a few brief moments to sing my manager’s praises. She is a leader but to me, she is much more. She is a mentor, an inspiration, a sounding board, a dose of reality when my head is in the clouds, a great judge of character and a sympathetic (or empathetic) nurturer. She is wise but humble, determined but diplomatic, kind but defensive (especially for those she cares about). She is strong in her convictions and gratefully, she believes in me so I can always count on her relentless support. I am blessed to have worked with her for the last (almost) four years and hope we’ll continue to work together for many years to come. However, if things are to change, I am at least comforted knowing that I will have a friend for a lifetime!
Finally, change can often be an amazingly wonderful thing. For example, changing from a family of three to a family of four was perfect for us. It makes our family whole. Baby P completes our lives and fills any empty space in our hearts that may have existed. Her sister R, too, created a new and invigorating dynamic for us. Those two small individuals have forever changed me and in this case, I can honestly say, change is good!
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