Chicago Connections

Transitions can be tough.  For one thing, you can be distracted and this can lead to interesting situations. A few days before I left Seattle, for example, I took a tumble down the stairs.  No bones were broken, just some bumps and bruises which are now on their way to healing and made the last bit of moving more interesting.  Such things are not unheard of during transitions.

Aside from the physical transition, there's also the opportunity and challenge of making connections in your new city.  Here I have a leg up, so to speak.  My sister and her family live not that far away.  One of my good friends from Giving Voice is also starting at CTU and living on my floor in the residence hall.  And this evening we had a gathering of other younger Sisters from various communities living in Chicago.  I was the old lady of the group I think at 40!  It  was good to reconnect, share, and just have fun.

Last week I had two orientations at CTU where I met some of my new classmates and many of the names of CTU staff that now have faces attached to them.  I've also met some of the people living here in the residence hall, although not everyone is here and we won't have our welcome gathering until next week.

All this to say, while this is still a rather large transition, I'm also feeling like I have enough connections with people to feel not quite at home, but pretty comfortable in this new space.  And that is a very good thing.

Transitions

I realized this evening that in less than one month I am moving to Chicago. Now this is something that has been in the horizon for quite a while. I have been engaged in sorting and purging my belongings in preparation for packing and the move. I trained my replacement at my place of ministry. I have been having some see you later lunches.  But it is still crazy to think that in less than one month I will be getting settled in my new city.

Transitions!!! (Read that to the tune of Fiddler on the Roof's Tradition if you please.) They are an opportunity. To give thanks for what has been and what will come. To deepen and shift relationships with people in your old city as you prepare to build new relationships in the new city. A time to take stock, to reflect on your priorities and plan life in your new city around them. To take each day as it comes, to go lightly and to be open to what will come.  What is nice about this transition is that I already know some of the folks who will be part of my life in my new city, including at least one neighbor/classmate, some friends and family! Regular play dates with my pint size nephew are in my immediate future.

I also know that transitions can be stressful so I am trying to go gently into this one. We shall see how it goes!