Starting any transition journey can be messy. Why? Because its impact is usually layered and feels like a roller coaster ride. I remember the jolt of moving from Virginia to Vermont just before my senior year of high school. Everyone says senior year is meant for hanging out with friends you’ve known forever and having fun before college. That expectation blew up when I found out my family was moving.
I had to start fresh. I had to get used to the colder weather, understand the new area and its quirks, and find new friends during the summer. I needed to meet new teachers and learn how they graded. I had to figure out new social groups and share a room with two of my sisters again. The impact felt endless. Moving at any age is complicated because it brings emotional, social, and lifestyle shifts all at once. The cherry on top? The relocation intersected with my college search.
It wasn’t my first rodeo as I’d relocated several other times in my youth. I wasn’t alone either; my seven siblings quickly became friends because we needed each other. We moved into a new development where all our neighbors were transplants too. So, it was a good summer to feel the pain and share it with others. Letting yourself feel those emotions while gaining support from others in the same boat helped a lot. It makes it easier to carve a path toward a new start.
Today, I see that my relocation experiences helped me strengthen certain skills like being able to handle strong feelings – a sign of resilience – and adjusting smoothly to new people, places, and cultures – truly valuable throughout my consulting and coaching career.
What about you? Have you ever gone through a big transition where emotional, social, and lifestyle shifts occurred all at once? What strengths did you discover or develop that you still value today?
Carol Bergeron guides people through major life transitions with a focus on self-reflection, visualization, and collaboration. She helps clients adapt to personal and professional changes, especially when shaping modern retirement lifestyles, which involve emotional, social, lifestyle, and health-related shifts converging all at once.
Explore Carol’s upcoming small group coaching programs: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/bergeron-associates-13715940172#collections
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