My friend has always found solace in the fact that everything has a beginning, a middle, and an end. It sounds obvious, but few people really internalize what that means. We often feel sadness or angst when something ends, rather than acknowledging it as a natural consequence of each cycle.
- Rather than lamenting the need to sell your house and move into independent living, recognize it as a natural step toward the end of life
- Instead of expecting to work at one place for a career, be comfortable knowing your service there has a term
- Rather than foregoing social vulnerability, accept that friendships and relationships may fade as life and circumstances evolve
- Instead of being sad about someone leaving a position, moving, or going off to school, consider it an expected and even joyful outcome
- Rather than missing out on all the love of a pet, acknowledge upfront that if you purchase or adopt one, you will likely outlive it and need to say goodbye
- Instead of fretting about the cold weather, remember that each season naturally concludes
Expecting the end can go a long way toward helping you accept it.
