The Challenges

The Challenges – You stumble on your new path. You get lost as you try to rewrite your life or adjust to your new circumstances. Your challenges often reflect your greatest weakness. They cause you to thinking about scurrying back to the old you.~ from The Hero's Journey

Well I stumbled and I got lost more times than I can count as I muddled through the many changes in my life.

I got divorced. For all my false bravado and even with the deep conviction that it was the right choice to make, it was heart wrenching and gut wrenching. To admit to failure, that this relationship was just too far gone, went against my grain.

Being divorced was tough, being shunned by the community that could only accept us as a couple was much more difficult. A year later I lost my job, and suddenly I was invisible. I had fallen into a dark crevasse and there seemed to be no way out.

I struggled for a while, and shouted out for help until my throat was raw. Then I gave up and accepted that this was where I was supposed to be for a while. So I sat in the darkness and listened with my heart and soul.

Listening took the form of furious journal writing. I faced my demons, I admitted my weaknesses, and most of all, I forgave myself for my failures. Light slowly illuminated the path out of the dark crevasse and I stood again on solid ground.

My voice had become stronger. I was ready for the next step of my transition. This stage would require a great deal of courage and an even greater leap of faith.