1. Most
of us accept the fact that change is hard. It’s tough to lose
weight, or to be more productive at work, or to
quit smoking.
Our past efforts at change may be riddled with
failure. But not
all change is hard, and in fact, some big
changes we look forward
to—getting married, having a baby or changing
jobs.
Can you describe some major changes in your life that you embraced
without resistance,
and in fact even looked forward to?
How did that
change make
you feel?
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ReplyDeleteThe major change was in 2001. I married my husband, Art. What a Godsend he was and continues to be in my life. We have been through a lot and we have supported each other, through good times and bad. It's been great. The next biggest change will be starting s new cancer support group. I'm excited to get it started and pray that it will be accepted by the community and surrounding areas.
ReplyDeleteSome major changes that I embraced without looking back include going back to school to get my master's degree, getting married, and having a baby. Many times were stressful during the changes, but I'm glad that I made it through them!
ReplyDeleteThinking about changes I have made since college: moved from coast to coast and back to Colorado, got my master's in special ed, got married, changed from a Middle School English teacher to an elementary severe needs teacher, moved again so my husband could go back to school and we had two children. Those changes all seemed pretty easy. Our move to KS was probably the most stressful. We left our families behind to both start new jobs in a new state. I think I am adjusting to the change pretty well.
ReplyDeleteAfter growing up in Eastern Kansas and living in the same town all my life I made lots of change. Not all of them were easy but well worth them. I chose to move across the state to Hays to attend college, I took my first teaching job in Salina where I knew not a soul. After a few years of teaching regular education I accepted a job teaching Special Ed in Colby so moved again to start a new job in something I didn’t really know much about. Luckily my move was to be closer to my future husband and so I had the support system that would be needed to survive that first year. There have many numerous other changes in my life in the past 14 years of teaching including marriage, children, moving jobs/position, and moving homes. Maybe they were not always on my radar screen but I truly believe GOD has a plan and I can say even thought at the time I did not understand each one has been where I was truly supposed to be.
ReplyDeleteIn the last couple of years, I have made lots and lots of big changes in my life and in the life of my boys. Change has always made me extremely anxious...these changes, however, happened at just the right time, and I was able to make them without too much anxiety. In July 2012, I packed up my house and my kids and made the move back to southwestern Kansas. Wow...it was such a change for all of us. It was time for me to come home and it was time for me to put my kids and myself first (which was something that I hadn't been able to do in a long time). We made the move and really had a seamless transition period. I started at a new school, which was SO scary to me; however, I met one of my best friends there! In June 2013, I got married to the most amazing man. We are building a life together which is exciting for all of us, including our kids. I firmly believe that there is a reason for everything...change is hard and scary sometimes, but it is definitely necessary.
ReplyDeleteI think a major change in my life that I was able to embrace without resistance is when I accepted my job @ HPEC 19 years ago. I was a single parent of 3 children under the age of 10 and I was going to be moving 2 hours away from my parents who were a great support system for me. The thought of getting a new start with my kids was exciting and scary all in one. There was just something about the job felt right and I was excited to start out on a new adventure. I guess the job has been right, cause I'm still here and enjoying my job.
ReplyDeleteChange is scary but I guess we have faith when we said yes to the job.
DeleteLooking at all the changes in my life they have been scary but excited at the same time. I do believe everything happens for a reason. I had my daughter eight years ago and from there it has been a snowball effect. After having my daughter I decided to go back to school for my degree in Elementary Education from the University of Wyoming. A year after I graduated I packed up my life of 22 years in Casper, Wyoming and moved to Liberal, Kansas. As I was teaching my first year of 6th grade regular education class I was taking classes towards my Master's Degree in Reading and Literacy. When I met my husband in Liberal, he asked me to marry him and then we had another little girl.
ReplyDeleteI do believe change is good but I like to be prepared to the best of my ability. When I not prepared I feel like I bother others to gain information that I should already know. The adventure I am on now is great but everything is new. I feel like I am finally able to see pass the next hour and see where I would like all my students to be by the end of the school year.
DeleteI’ve decided if a person lives long enough, they’ll go through so many changes it becomes ‘old hat’ and nothing to worry about. So far, I’ve not gotten there. Changes still make me anxious – sometimes positively and sometimes not. I’ve lost family members and that caused huge changes in my life. I’ve gained family through marriages and births and there’s no greater feeling.
ReplyDeleteIt’s been so long since I’ve changed jobs, I can’t remember what it felt like, except I still do look forward to the first paycheck each year to see the amount. Yet, each year is so different than the previous year. There are always new professionals to work with and new students to get to know. I really enjoy getting to know all the new faces.
Wow as I read this question I thought about all the changes I have been through even since college. One of the biggest changes for my husband and I was when I accepted my first teaching job in Holcomb and moved out west, we were living in Minneapolis KS at the time which is where I grew up. I was excited about my job but nervous about the move as I had never been very far from my family. This is our fifth year living in Western KS and my family now says we will never move back. Since moving out here I have changed school districts from Holcomb to Deerfield and this year from Deerfield public school to high plains but still in the Deerfield school district. We have also added two beautiful girls to our family in that five years. I look back at that change and really do feel blessed, both my husband and I have had many opportunities out west and have made some amazing friends. Sometimes change as scary as it may be can turn out to be one of the biggest blessings!!
ReplyDeleteAs I read this and the comments of others, I realize how long it has been since there has been a major change in the my life. I've had the same husband, same house, and same job for almost 20 years, and it has been a while since I've had a baby. I think there is a time and place for stability, but also a time and place for change. What I have learned over the years, is that all the fretting and worrying one does about change or something new in one's life doesn't make it any easier. Usually, when the change happens the adjustment is much easier and smoother than anticipated.
ReplyDeleteI look back and think of what changes have come in my life. Many Moves from coast to coast. Marriage, children, job changes and moving to new places. I have always been good at the over idea of change it is the unknown that I stress over. Leaving the military, my husband changing jobs and not knowing for sure what is going to happen with insurance and all that fun stuff.
ReplyDeleteI made a big change in my life when I attended Ft Hays State, which was 300 miles away from my parents. That was my choice and I loved it. I then made changes in my life when I got married and had my children. I enjoyed all of those changes. I will be looking at making changes in my life in the next couple of years, which is making me anxious not knowing exactly where or what I will be doing.
ReplyDeleteOne of the biggest changes in my life was going to college, which I embraced. I was ready for the change to move out on my own and support myself. I got married during graduate school and eventually moved to my husband's hometown. Of course there is a bit of nervousness that goes with change, but they've all been for the best. I have gained so much from each major change in my life.
ReplyDeleteThis was a difficult question for me. As I tried to think of changes in my life that I embraced without resistance, I found that there was not a single one that came to mind. I am beginning to think that I am too analytical to embrace anything without serious contemplation. Every change has negatives and positives and it is really the weight of each that determines how we feel about the changes that will take place. I am neither a wife, nor a mother, so those two biggies are not ones I can relate to. I think that change can happen two ways, by choice and by chance. Some changes are within our control and the others are not. I truly believe that it is how we react to the changes in our life that is important. I have had many changes, moving to Southwest Kansa is the most recent. Although I have many reasons to miss home, I have found many reasons to embrace my chosen path. It is really the power of the mind that enables us to make the best, and worst, of change and situations.
ReplyDeleteI look back at the last ten years of my life and cannot believe all the changes I have had! Of course, the first one that was met without resistance was marriage! I looked forward to the new experiences we would have and wondered what life would bring us. Since then, we have moved 5+ hours away from our families and added two additional children to our marriage (we had Grace when we moved down here). I think if I would have looked at the changes with a negative attitude or tried to control certain situations the experience of change itself would have been extremely hard to handle. I can't say that I have met every change with a positive attitude, but I can truly say that change is a great thing!
ReplyDeleteSince graduating from high school a long time ago, I have never lived any where longer than seven years and I lived some places for a shorter time than that. We have moved from large urban areas to small rural settings and I have had to practice what I have preached to my kids--You don't get do-overs on your days. You have to make your life where you are. I think if you are open to change, life can be an adventure where ever you are.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with a previous post"er" that I have not exactly "embaced" change. One of my son's FFA speeches starts out with the quote: "no one likes change except a new baby and they kick and cry a lot!". I've certainly done my share of kicking and crying! Change has opened many opportunities and blessings in my life, yet I still struggle with change. Becoming a divorced single Mom of four boys was a difficult change; but we did it and thrived (with the help of my parents, church family, an awesome FFA advisor, coach and everyone else in a small rural school & community). Change has brought the joy of two wonderful daughter-in-laws and eight grandbabies. Change has also brought the passing of loved ones. Change brought me to High Plains and going back to school for my Master's degree (both of which have stretched me as well as being enjoyable). Change is part of life and hopefully I'm learning that it always works out.
ReplyDeleteLots of great reflections! Change has usually brought me some bits of anxiety. It depends on my mood and the situation how I have handled changes in my life. I know better than to stew over things but sometimes I just do. One of my favorite sayings is "it is what it is" so really no need resisting changes in my life. I know it is best to accept things and find ways to go with the flow and make the best of changes as they happen.
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ReplyDeleteI have experienced many major changes in my life over the years -- college, marriage, living and teaching abroad, graduate school, and teaching here in the United States. All of these changes were something I wanted to do. These changes were not without stress, but I can look back with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many changes that occur in life it's hard to list them all. I always expected to go to college, get married, have a career, and start a family. Those are not so much changes more than dreams and expectations. I think the 2 main changes I have had was moving from Texas and away from my family to Kansas after Jason and I had only been married for 2 years. Another big change was having children. Of course I did not realize at the time but it is truly a life changing event. I don't mind change, it keeps things interesting! It keeps us from getting into a rut. Life changes and its best to ride it out, learn from it, be part of the process, and grow with it!!!
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the many changes that others have posted about: marriage, motherhood, beginning a career. These are all changes that I have embraced. However as my career evolves and I learn more about my profession, I have really embraced the change that HPEC set forth several years ago with the coaching model in EC. My previous experiences were to work on speech and language in a controlled environment and then take the student back to class. Now I am on home visits with parents, in daycares and in preschool classrooms teaching and coaching about language expansion and typical s/l development. I can see that my shared knowledge is touching not only "my" students but other children in their care. With this change, I have also learned to ask more questions (i.e. ECSE teacher, OT/PT, APE) so I can learn from others and be more well rounded in my approach with children with special needs.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else the biggest changes in my life have been getting married and having kids. Another change would be when I decided to teach in Leoti, my hometown, instead of Scott City. I welcomed the change but found out very quickly that it was much harder to teach in my hometown where many of the teachers I worked alongside were my teachers in school. It took awhile but I'm now seen as a coworker not just the student that used to sit in a desk in their classroom. Change is good without it we would just stay in a rut and never grow.
ReplyDeleteI look at the things I have done and for me some major changes were going from a general education classroom to teaching special education. I also starting working on my master's at the same time. I don't regret any of the things I have done. While change may be scary it helps keep up honest and keeps us trying new and exciting things.
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