Transitions: Outward Appearances Do Not Always Reflect the Struggles Within

Transitions can be hard. All of us go through many uncharted periods during our lifetime whether it is going to college; changing a career; becoming a parent; caring for parents; enduring a breakup or grieving the loss of a loved one. These life shifts are unavoidable. Acknowledging and understanding them can help you navigate the changes. One the most difficult times in my life was transitioning out of a sport I loved. I was a professional figure skater. My commitment and love for skating was absolute for the better part of 20 years of my life. My family and friends referred to me as “the skater”; a label I proudly took on and permanently etched in my own sense of identity. I was obsessed with figure skating. I loved working up a sweat in a cold rink; picking out music and costuming for my next program; being challenged by seemingly impossible elements; hanging with skater friends; having one on one attention from my coaches; missing school for competitions and even the smell of Zamboni fumes. As much as I gave myself to skating, skating seemed to give back in so many ways. Skating afforded me numerous opportunities to perform, make money, build a socially supportive community and see the world doing something I loved. People clapped for me at the end of a work day. The attention was intoxicating and addictive on every level. Being a professional figure skater was a sexy job that elicited a lot of “wows” and “that’s so cool.” It was cool, and I breathed ...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Industrial and Workplace Motivation and Inspiration Personal Professional Self-Help Coping Skills Life Changes Resilience Source Type: blogs