July. The first month
of the second half of the year, the last month of summer for many of us in the
Northern Hemisphere before school starts back in August, the heart of winter in
the Southern Hemisphere. July brings us
to our J word – junction.
A junction is a place where two things come together, like
the first and second half of a year. It’s the end of one thing and the
beginning of another, a transition region. It might be external – a physical
move from one city or country to another, a job change, marriage, divorce,
graduation, parenthood to name a few of the biggies.
But a junction can also be internal. You know something is changing, you feel it
inside, you have to let go to move forward, but the letting go is difficult and
the way forward uncertain.
Junctions are good – they force us to slow down and take
notice of where we’re going. We have to be deliberate, exiting the A train,
buying a ticket for the B train, moving into action. Junctions can also be daunting. Here are a few ideas for making the most of
your next junction.
Prepare as much as possible. With big changes, you know the
tracks are ending, get ready.
Look around. Enjoy
the scenery at the junction. Check out
how things work. Talk to other travelers
who’ve been down the track you’re thinking about taking.
Give yourself a break.
Take time to rest and relax.
Pack wisely. Once
you’ve decided what is next, get what you need to make the adventure a success.
