Who will you change with?

You can listen to the audio version of this post below.

This is a part of the October blog challenge. You can find the other posts here.

Change can be difficult. It can be exhausting. Even the change that you longed for can take a bit of getting used to. 

Energy is required to start something. To stop something. To change direction. 

So while you are in the change, rest. Refresh yourself. Stay hydrated and sleep if you can. 

Laugh - often and deep. Cry when the tears come. 

Give yourself grace. 

Doing something new can feel vulnerable. Letting go of something you have held onto can feel lonely. So keep good company.

Earlier this month, I wrote about how community made me a better writer; about how my writing community made me feel seen and understood, and how much I learned from them. 

Well - I happen to think that community makes everything better. Good company can make the changes we choose possible. They can keep us accountable to our new routines, and cheer us along our way. 

And good company can make the changes that are forced upon us tolerable. They can help light the dark paths that we walk. They can walk with us, mourn with us, laugh with us, and lighten the load of the changes that are inevitable in this life. 

The thing about good company, is that it doesn’t always come from the places you expect. Sometimes it comes from the obvious places - friends, family, those in your immediate community. And sometimes it comes from people halfway around the world, who are going through the same change that you are.

The reason I love my writing groups is that they understand my life as a writer. They get me! They humour me when I feel like nerding out over language and writing. And while I am fortunate to have family and friends who support that part of my life, I have other friends who have no interest in writing - and that is ok. 

Sometimes we can feel strain in our relationships when we have un-met expectations. It is natural when we have found something that we are excited about to want our friends, family and partners to feel just as enthusiastic. However, that isn’t always the case, and sometimes we need to seek out communities where there are people who share the same interests as we do, who are on the same path to change that we are on, in order to feel seen and supported, and who we can support  and witness. 

By intentionally seeking out supportive community that will hold space for our change, we can enjoy our other relationships while making the most of our common ground. 

So - whether it is friends or family, or groups with a theme or purpose, find the community to walk the road of change with. 

To those who have walked with me - I really do appreciate you!

And I send you big love from a small island.

PS I love this wonderful image from by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash