Every parent knows the joy and sorrow of watching their kids grow up. In every exciting transition for our kids, there is a hint of heartache. Sometimes more than a hint. It's a real sense of loss. We are so proud of who and what our kids are becoming while also a little crushed that they'll never again be the kid they used to be.
No matter how much we cherish the moments, we can't freeze our kids in time. Wishing our kids would stay as they are forever would deny them the greatest gift of all, becoming themselves, and deny us the delight of sharing that experience with them.
This experience reveals a more profound lesson about life beyond parenting or growing up.
The price for gaining something new is leaving behind what you have now. That's the exchange. You can have new things, but first, you must let go of the current things and leave them behind. There's sadness in that, even when there is excitement about where you're going.
Engage in this transaction -- past and present in exchange for the future -- with your eyes open, your heart full, and your vision clear.
Answer the call. Do the work.
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