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200 words, courage, Diana Schwenk, Diana's Enormous Book of Quotes, Fear, growth, integrity, plan, Purpose
For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone. The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes. To someone who doesn’t understand growth, it would look like complete destruction. ~ Cynthia Occelli
She says every time she makes a plan, something happens and her plan fails.
As recent as four years ago, I had been with the same organization for 20 years.
I’d grown up with the organization and held a variety of positions over the years. I loved it there!
I figured I would stay there until I retired. That was my plan.
Then it fell apart. Everything I knew, everything I believed was turned on its head. And it became painful for me to stay there, but I was too afraid to leave.
I was afraid because my identity and purpose were tied into my role. I thought leaving would strip me of who I was. I thought it would destroy my life.
When I finally left, it was devastating. I was broken.
Or that’s how it seemed.
Little did I know that it would be the beginning of new growth.
~ DIANA’S ENORMOUS BOOK OF QUOTES ~
This was really beautiful, Diana! I could feel my own heart skip a beat with that very familiar feeling of jumping out into the unknown. It’s such a scary yet exciting feeling to know that growth is at hand, even if it doesn’t feel very positive at the time. A very inspiring reflection, my friend!
~Andrea<3
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Thanks Andrea! Scary and exciting are great words to describe it. Did you go and get back from Vietnam already?
Diana xo
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Yes, we’re back but I’ve retreated from blogging for a bit lately – the new school year is taking up a lot of energy at the moment.
I’m excited to get going with it, lots of exciting experiences to share…hopefully soon!! 😀
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Do it whenever you want Andrea, we’ll still be here!
Diana xo
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Wonderful share Diana. I too can see with hindsight that the times I was the most broken ended up leading directly to my most blessed and happy times. May we hang on to hope by remembering this truth! Posts like these help!
hugs, Gina xo
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I find the older I get, the more experience I’ve had with this type of thing, the more I trust it will happen during difficult times.
Thanks Gina!
Diana xo
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You mean friendship. Maybe. I think single women as they age, also have their preferences who they connect with. But yes, freer…and especially if one doesn’t have children or has adult children living away from home.
Diane, I’m not married but yes I have partner. You’ll see….one day there will be a blog post about cycling dearie. I have personal belongings in 2 different provinces and we jump between 2 locations. (Sometimes he has biked it to/from Vancouver.)
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Bike from Vancouver to Calgary? Wow! How long does that take?
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I think uh I’ve lost track of his timing. He has done it several times over the past 2 decades. The older he gets, it gets more difficult. He averages 100- 75 km. per day.
His first trip across Canada in 2001 from Vancouver to Toronto was 45 days. And it was literally 100 km. per day. He’s done 2 different group trips in the interior B.C. with people over 50-60 yrs old. He’solder than retirement age. 🙂
But most of his trips are solo when I’m not with him. 🙂 Yea, well I’ll have a blog post on the dynamics of this one.
But I do personally know a Vancouver area woman cyclist who also was a cycling advocate and well respected/known ..she cycled from Vancouver to Nfld. after she retired as a nurse @65 yrs. She camped most of the time..which I would find hard! She is a grandmother of 2 and has been single for most of her life. 🙂
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Wow – impressive!
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Well, I thought I was nuts to leave a beautiful city and relocate 800 km. east from Vancouver after accepting a job offer. Let’s put it this way, just after 50.
It’s harder only because friendship seems to take longer time to establish when you’re older.
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Do you really find that to be true? I find it’s not age as much as it is marriage at any age. Maybe because I’m single?
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From ashes it rises – the cycle of life, the way of the cosmos.
Peace,
Eric
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So it would seem Eric. Peace to you as well.
Diana
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Pingback: What You Do Is NOT Who You Are | The Other Bottom Line
The quote is wonderful.
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Isn’t it? I read it many times when I first saw it!
Diana xo
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Yes, that’s the way it works if you let it.
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I don’t always know it at the time, but that’s ok. It often is a process, wouldn’t you agree?
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Yes, I would agree on all counts.
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To meet change despite fears is bravery Diana. And you my friend are just that..very brave. Can so relate to why planning is waste of time. But I think the reason we do it, is to keep the illusion that we’re in control. Loved this post.
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Thanks Kristi! I think some planning is ok and necessary for work. Also, I like planning for tropical vacations!
Diana xo
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Excellent Post.
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Thanks Gavin!
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When I make plans i am always afraid the bottom will fall out of them and I will be left with a big mess……………
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You and my BFF should get together for coffee! haha
Diana xo
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“Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snows
Lies the seed that with the sun’s love
In the spring becomes the rose. ”
Bette Midler
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I loved that song when it first came out but never saw the wisdom until now. Thanks Elizabeth!
Diana xo
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Change is hard, especially as we get older. It’s unnerving to take new risks and enter new worlds. Forge on!
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I will! Yes in some ways it’s harder, but one also grows in confidence with age and experience and sometimes it’s easier!
Diana xo
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Diana, thank you for this post. It reveals yet another layer of your personality and experience. 🙂
Sometimes the comfort zone we finally move away from is not so comfortable after all, but the unknown may be frightening. Personal relationships often go through this. I lived it.
Jennifer x
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Thanks Jennifer and I agree! Relationships are relationships whether they are personal or work related.
Diana xo
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I love this post. Well written! Big message. Thank you, Diana!
Russ
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Thank you so much Russ!
Diana xo
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More please!
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(smiling) too vague? My challenge is to write Sunday’s DEBQ in exactly 200 words!
Hugs to you Julie!
Diana
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And its our role as your keenly interested readers to help flesh it out? 🙂
Have you ever noticed the tendency of us humans to choose the certainty of an unsatisfactory situation over the allure of a satisfying but uncertain alternative?
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Ian I think it’s definitely the first reaction, isn’t it?
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I used to love doing the word limit thing – onya! Not too vague.
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This is great Diana (and Louise too!) I read somewhere about how a caterpillar would feel – if it could – as it is becomes entombed in the crysallis and then has to break out into the world as a butterfly….. pretty scary – But what an awesome outcome.
“Life at its best is a series of challenges. A big enough challenge will bring out strengths and abilities you never knew you had. Take on the challenges and you will bring yourself to life.” Anon
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To go even further in that line of thinking, I wonder how a baby feels when it’s being born (a new and unknown future); coming from a warm, safe womb into a colder, harshly bright room…or death (a new and unknown future, a birth of sorts into a new way of being or as some fear – nothing)
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So true. There are certain nests we create that become just too comfortable. The stirring up no doubt comes as a gift. 🙂
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Not always seen in the moment it occurs but so true Don! Thanks for stopping by!
Diana xo
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I remember that time Diana — both of us, angst-ridden about next steps, how would we survive our departures from agencies we loved to work with? Look at us now! Woo! Hoo! 🙂 You shine brightly my friend, always planting seeds of hope and possibility and grace.
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(smiling) Yes Louise, look at us now! In a way it was so comforting to know that you were going through and overcoming the same issues. I’m so blessed to know you!
Diana
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