T for Transition

Transition.  Webster’s defines it as a movement, passage or change from one position, state or stage to   There’s such energy, excitement, anxiety and possibility in transition. It’s a beautiful thing.

another.

I remember my first big transition.  After 18 years at home in the same town, same school, same church, same friends, I set off for college.  Granted it was only 90 minutes down the road, but it might as well have been the far side of the moon.  I was lost. Homesickness almost overwhelmed me, but my tenacity saved the day.  I had signed up for this, I would complete it.  At least the first semester.  That’s what I wrote home to my grandparents the second week of freshman year – that I would stay until Christmas, but then it was back home for me. 

Of course, by Christmas break, I was settled, connected and happy as a lark.  They couldn’t have drug me away from college life.

Fast forward about a dozen years.  Charlie and I are about to make our first corporate relocation from Kentucky to Wisconsin.  Doesn’t seem that drastic, hey?  Again, it could have been the far side of the moon.  I was in a tizzy.  Tossed and turned at night asking what we had done.  How could we fix it.  Finally, after a long talk with Charlie, I picked up the phone, called my old boss in Louisville and asked for my job back. 

I was flying through Louisville in a few weeks so he suggested we meet then.  We talked and agreed to my return. And, immediately, upon getting back to Wisconsin, I thought – what am I doing?  I’ve moved on.  I can’t go back now. 

So we didn’t.  My boss was a pretty smart guy.  I’m guessing he knew that all along, but he had placated me, let me know I had a home if I needed it.  I respect him for that to this day.

When the next move came, no big deal.  By this time, I knew to expect the initial shock.  And I knew that it would pass.  I knew that going back wasn’t a good idea.  Once we made the decision, we moved forward.  This lesson was pretty easy to remember. 

Until it wasn’t.  Our first international move almost led to complete brain freeze.  At more than one point, we were tempted to throw in the towel, call it a day and go home to the USA.  We persisted.  And it was great.  Our second international move was smoother.  We reclaimed our star pupil status.

And then we stopped moving.  After 24 years of marriage and more than a dozen moves, we landed in Singapore in 2006 and have been firmly rooted here since.  At this point, that’s about eight out of our almost 32 married years – a full 25% of our lives in one place. But that doesn’t mean life hasn’t had its transitions.  I’ve moved from my 40s to 50s.  I’ve moved from being the mother of two amazing young women to being a mother-in-law of two outstanding young men and Oma to two beautiful little people.  In 2008, Charlie’s mom died. In 2010, we said goodbye to my dad.  There have been promotions and new jobs and graduations and celebrations, illnesses, heartaches, challenges and triumphs.  A few weeks ago, Mom sat at the closing table and turned over the keys to the family home.  In a few more weeks, for the first time in 40 years, a new family will celebrate their first Thanksgiving dinner in the old red brick house in a kitchen that overflows with good memories and great times. 

I used to think the geographical relocations were tough transitions.  I’ve learned that isn’t always the case.  But I’ve also learned that life is transition.  And we must carry on. Tenacity, today and thanks – more great T words.

Through all life’s transitions, let us give thanks and rejoice for today is the day the Lord has made.

S for Satisfaction

I am on day five of a Specific Food Plan as defined in The Inside Tract: Your Good Gut Guide to Great Digestive Health (authors Gerard E. Mullin and Kathie Madonna Swift). After several weeks of discomfort, and many more months before that of just not feeling right, I decided to take matters into my own hands and search out solutions.  This book came into my line of sight so I ordered it from Amazon and read with care and delight.  The digestive system is truly amazing.

Dr. Mullin warned that many physicians will recommend more meds for digestive problems such as heartburn, GERD, IBS, – and this is exactly what happened to me.  When the doctor had nothing else to offer but another prescription, I politely declined, quickly exited the office, went straight to the market and embarked on the Specific Foods Plan suggested in the book.  The timing was excellent as Charlie was to be away on a business trip and would not have to suffer through the dietary limitations with me.

Exercising such specificity in what I consume has led me to the S word “satisfaction.” I’m on Day 5 and having great success.  I really thought I’d be starving, but to my great satisfaction, I am satiated.  Satisfaction comes from the Latin satis meaning enough and facere meaning to make or do.  Do enough, make enough.  Such a nice place to be.  And food is a great place to start to understand and appreciate satisfaction. 

That hasn’t been the case with my eating in the past – I would ignore my stomach’s signals about its satisfaction and keep stuffing.  And then suffer later.  I’ve learned a few key things that have really helped me rethink how I use my spoon and fork – and how to listen more carefully to my gut.

Here are some of my favorite bits from the book:

There are more nerve cells in your bowel than in your spine.

Your gut has as many neurotransmitters as your brain (it’s called your second brain)

Chewing is essential to good digestion.

The stomach is about 12 inches long and 6 inches across at its widest point – it can hold about 1 quart of food, but more if pushed. 

Eat until you are about 80% full – this gives the tummy room to work on that food. 

The average adult gut contains approximately 5 pounds of bacteria.

Food preferences are shaped by repeated experiences with food over time – so if something is really good for you, start working it in slowly.  You’ll acquire a taste for it.  Unfortunately, many of us have preferences that have been shaped by over-salted and over-sugared processed foods so there’s some re-training to be done.

Implementing this diet plan has brought me great satisfaction.  My gut feels better, my joints don’t ache, my tummy isn’t bloated, my sleep has improved, and I feel satisfied. It has taken a bit of adjustment and creativity, but the rewards so far are well worth the effort.  Most importantly, it has made me mindful of satisfaction – of realizing when I’ve had enough and stopping there.  It started with food, but it’s manifested into other areas.  And it’s quite refreshing.  In a world that says – don’t ever stop – it’s good to learn that sometimes it is right to stop.  Stop eating when you’re full.  Stop talking when you’ve lost your thread.  Stop worrying about everything.  Stop trying to control everything and everyone.  Stop being busy all the time and just rest.  Stop obsessing.  Stop craving more and more.

Satisfaction – knowing when enough is enough.