An Abrupt Change

My daughter posted the following quote: 

"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

When you've had your focus on certain goals and you've worked as hard as you can to accomplish them,  pain & turmoil can accompany an abrupt and sudden change in direction.  Initially, one tries to hold onto the old with all their might, not even risking a quick glance at the new.  At first, the new is just too new, way too different to even consider.  Feet are firmly and definitively planted in support of the old.  Unable to bend and consider the new, crying for what has been lost is normal and natural.  Afterall, letting go of the old feels like the death of all that work, all those plans, all that was supposed to be.  Grief now takes star billing.  Denial steps between the curtains to make it's debut accompanied by loud vehement shouts of No and Not Me.  Anger isn't far behind with it's friends, Temper and Tantrum.  Bargaining sneaks on stage with it's attempts to save what was, throwing out ideas like flower petals drifting upon the wind.  Depression lies alone at the very corner of the stage, unable to even raise it's head.  Acceptance, well, Acceptance patiently waits for it's cue offstage, not knowing when it will be able to grab the spotlight.  This particular play has no set run time, these characters set their own pace. The audience settles in to wait, to give each of them their due. Acceptance must wait patiently for those before it to take their bows before it is able to take center stage.