Like many of my friends, I’ve felt anxious about my upcoming retirement and the decisions and actions it requires. Any major life transition can bring challenges we would rather avoid. While wrestling with these concerns, I found unexpected inspiration during a visit with my niece. She has a disability and is sometimes judged unfairly. During our visit, someone asked how her dog followed her commands so precisely and behaved so well. She answered simply, “You have to put in the effort!” Her words struck me as both wise and relevant to my own transition. Change is inevitable, but we can choose how we respond: we can let it unfold haphazardly, or we can put in the effort to plan, prepare, and take charge of our circumstances as best we can.

By Stephanie Palubicki, OblSB