Cycles of Transition Blog

It is a grey, overcast day today in Astoria.  I just came in from seeing friends for coffee.  One of the friends is dying of lung cancer, and believes she only has 2 months to live.  She and her family are staying so present for each other, living from moment to moment, because they see the end of their moments together looming ever closer.  I started thinking, why don’t we live our everyday lives this way?  Stephen Levine wrote a book titled “A Year to Live” that  really brings into focus what living is all about; that if we don’t live as if we only had a short time (staying in the moment, being totally present for others and ourselves, living with meaning and purpose)—we are not living at all.  Midlife, as well as illness, is a time when we feel the finiteness of our existence come closer than it ever has before.  I feel it today even more after being with my friend….

Welcome to the blog for Cycles of Transition (COT)!  We are glad you have visited our blog and hope it will be a venue for talking about the challenges, experiences, and possibilities of midlife.  I am Rich Hedlund, a midlife transitions specialist and counselor/coach and will be writing often.  My wife Pam, a psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner and counselor will also be participating in the discussions or offerings.  Please feel free to ask for a consultation or about our services at the email addresses on our website, or call us directly at 503-338-9473.  This page is specifically a voice for sharing about midlife.  Please keep language and opinions to those that can be helpful for yourself and others. But please give us your thoughts and feedback, we look forward to hearing from you. 

Meanwhile, here’s something to think about: Shakespeare said “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”.  Does this apply to growing older?

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