The Gears of Change

Hello everyone. This is Barbara A. Munro !?

I hope that you had a great beginning of the New Year.?I am guest writing this week for my husband, MACK Munro . So, sit down take a deep breath and let’s get started.

CHANGE?– sounds like a dirty word, right?

Some people are ok with change while others fight it or have a hard time adjusting.

Here’s how I see it:?stop fighting to keep the past and embrace the new.

Say it with me: “Stop fighting to keep the past and embrace the new.”

Wow wasn’t that exhilarating??It’s a LOT easier said, than done, isn’t it?

All of us have been going through change since birth.?You left the womb and entered a cold room, where you had to breath and eat differently.

It didn’t end there did it??Change continues through all stages of our lives, from crawling to walking, to running, riding a bike, driving a car, dating, getting married, having kids, becoming empty nesters.?It’s strange to think these events are indeed change, but if you’re reading this, you obviously are still amid the constant change.??All of us.??We may have felt scared, or experienced sadness or joy depending on the situation, but here we are.

So let me tell you a story about my change.?I am retired Naval Officer, and, in my career, I was extremely busy.?See I worked doing supply chain management or being a chief financial officer.?My work was demanding yet satisfying.?There were many times we adapted to change based on what our mission was.

When I retired from the military it was a new adventure (remember: stop fighting to keep the past and embrace the new), so, I stepped into the world of being a Financial Advisor.?This was rewarding and filled with some consistency but IRS, SEC and FINRA rules would change.?So, you embrace the new and educate your clients the best you can.?Upon retiring from this role, I became an adjunct professor.?I fell in love with passing on 30+ years of knowledge and experience as I taught courses in Personal Finance and Principles of Management & Organizational Behavior.

The Spring 2023 semester is yet another change for me: No classes.?Adjuncts are given the leftovers that full-time professors don’t want, but since enrollment is low, there was nothing for me.

I was beside myself at first.?I was resistant (apparently, I forgot to “stop fighting to keep the past and embrace the new).?So, I found myself facing a semester with nothing to do.?Out of everything that is “BAD” there is always something good.?So, what am I embracing this semester??Well, I am taking the time to do projects around the house, work on some self-improvement projects, become a fitness instructor and write some blogs for Mack.?So, I am embracing the new with anticipated excitement and determination to do all the things I said I would do.?I have made my list for my projects, and this is my first blog.

What do I want to leave you with?

1. Accept/embrace the new. Don’t be scared.?It happens to us all and we must figure out how to navigate it.?When you continue to focus on or keep the past you will be miserable.
2. Realize that change can be exciting and rewarding. So don’t be afraid.
3. Talk about your feelings on change with your spouse, friend, or co-worker. Sometimes talking to someone can put a different perspective on it and can help you with the change.

Over the next few weeks Mack will be starting a series entitled?The Gears of Change.?If you understand his?3-Legged Stool of Great Performance?, you’ll be able to appreciate it even more.

We’ve all experienced a lifetime of change in just the past three years.?I don’t expect that’s going to change.?Rather than just be a victim of change, let’s all take charge and make the most of it.