Embracing the Inevitable: Courageously Navigating Life Changes and Unlocking Richer, More Meaningful Experiences

Roula: [00:00:00] Welcome to the Life Affairs Podcast. This is a place where we share life experiences and the many lessons learned by just living. Join me to immerse ourselves and take a closer look at the stories that shaped and defined us. Just remember, there's no judgment and a lot of understanding on today's episode of the Life Affairs Podcast.

Roula: In 1996 I heard the song by Sheryl Crow, A Change Would Do You Good. It turned out to be the pick me up sentence that have not filled me yet. So let me ask you this. How do you feel about change? And when was the last time it happened to you? I bet it was recent because, whether big or small, we encounter change in our lives almost every day.

Roula: We go through changes in the seasons of our [00:01:00] lives. Starting a new job, resigning, getting married, or getting divorced. We experience it in meeting a new friend or beginning a new relationship. It's even present in the simple act of changing our clothes each day or altering our eating preferences. Change is everywhere, in everything we do.

Roula: So change isn't that unfamiliar. When we say we don't like change or struggle to cope with it, I believe we're not giving ourselves enough credit for all the changes we constantly embrace in our daily lives. So, why am I talking about change today? Well, a few reasons. Or, two reasons. One, because I will be taking a short break from airing new episodes and the Inner Healing series that began just With my lovely guest Marina Pearson, exploring people pleasing, is the first [00:02:00] episode, or four, that will be delayed.

Roula: And two, the delay is due to a significant change for me and my family. We're moving to a new city and a new house. This marks the fourth major change in my life. The first big change in my life is moving to the Netherlands. I've never traveled, so Netherlands was the first place I went to. It is a terrifying moment.

Roula: Leaving behind the world I know in Lebanon, along with my entire family, to start a new life with my Dutch husband. The second major change is my divorce. I can't think of anything quite like the experience of going through a divorce. If I am to compare it to something, it would be jumping into a deep sea with an anchor chained to your ankle.

Roula: You must reach to the bottom of the sea to find the key that will unlock the anchor, [00:03:00]allowing you to float back up to the surface. The time it takes to reach the surface varies, but when you do, you It marks the beginning of a new life, a transformational one. The third significant change is bringing my current husband into my life and into the lives of my daughters.

Roula: Many times in my life, I long to share my unconventional thoughts with someone who will take them, embrace them, And the fact that my husband today do this with my deepest and most secret thoughts makes me certain he is the right one for me. In the many seasons of my life, we have been together for 12 years.

Roula: I mention all of this because I'm not afraid of change. I see change as an undeniable process of growth, transformation, building and becoming. This is why I believe there is so much out there for us to discover and learn from. [00:04:00] Not all changes have to be better or more beautiful. They can be rich in learning and grow in our life experiences.

Roula: My fourth major change is moving from the area where I lived for 24 years between Amsterdam and Diemen, which are very close to each other, to another province. This move feels like a world apart. It feels as though I am stepping into the unknown once again. I might be dramatizing it, but while my husband and I enjoy change, adapting, and building, not everyone in my family feels the same.

Roula: My daughters will once again face the consequences of our move, as they have already experienced move in houses. Five times in the past 13 years, as I stand on the brink of this new time of my life, I realize that each change I've faced has shaped me into who I am today, from moving to a [00:05:00] new country to learn how to navigate parenthood to enduring the pain of divorce and co parenting to finding love again and now relocating once more.

Roula: I've learned that change, no matter how daunting, is a powerful force of growth. Through all these experiences, I've discovered that resilience isn't just about surviving, it's about thriving in the face of the unknown. My journey has taught me that every challenge is an opportunity to evolve, redefine myself, and embrace the unknown with courage.

Roula: So, As I prepare to step into this next phase of my life, I do so with an open heart and a mind ready to learn. I know that whatever lies ahead, I have the strength to face it, the wisdom to grow from it, and the belief that each new change brings the possibility of a richer, more meaningful life.

Roula: In the [00:06:00] meantime, I know that some of you require food for thought. And on this podcast, I offer you a lot of this. So to pass the time on reflecting about where you've been and where you are today, I like to pick your brain with topics that we all know of. And don't necessarily open up a conversation about this is why I have for you two episodes to listen to episode 34 on the podcast, The Pursuit of Freedom with Rosie Burrows, where I talk about going against tradition, the power of story.

Roula: How music got me through growing up during a war, fighting fiercely for my happiness, being a normal person in an abnormal society, and being unequal in my marriage. And another podcast, an episode 65 from Fuck It Mothering where I talk about the challenges of being a new [00:07:00] mom in a country without my parents, without family, hating being a stay at home mom, how hard and painful breastfeeding can be and no one tells you about, and the guilt of giving formula milk.

Roula: Divorce and co parenting and the decision to marry and choosing to have another kid. I wish you a lot of listening, happiness, reflection, and relaxation. When I settle in my new surroundings, I will return with new episodes that delve even deeper into the power of transformation. So for now, I will only tell you, I will be back.

Roula: Thank you for listening to today's episode. If you enjoyed it, please share it with your friends and family and ask them to subscribe, leaving a rating and review on platforms like Apple podcast can also help boost the podcast ranking your support [00:08:00] through word of mouth is greatly appreciated. If you feel I'm encouraging you to tell your story, contact me on Rula at the life affairs podcast.com

You will see my email in the show notes. I'll see you next time.