Happy Easter! It’s officially spring, regardless of the snow that seems never to stop falling from the sky. As my son complained of the ongoing task of shovelling our driveway, I reminded him that this is a normal Alberta spring. I agree that it’s difficult to grow flowers, plant trees, and get started on all the things we associate with spring. An instantaneous transition would be appreciated. Reality is otherwise. Transitions can be slow and frustrating. But there’s much to be done in preparation for a new season of life, and if we’re too focussed on what’s next, we’ll miss doing what’s needed to be prepared.

I like the analogy of a backpack. If we’ve been on an expedition, we will have accumulated things associated with our past journey. It’s a good idea to fully unpack the contents and take inventory of what we have. As we identify the next journey, these contents can’t always get repacked. We can’t just add more to the backpack as it will become heavy, cumbersome, and a hinderance to our new journey. Somethings we may have to replace, leave behind, or re-stock supplies. In one sense it’s the four R’s of transition. Rest, repair, replenish, and refocus. (Note that I don’t know if there’s an official “4 R’s” of transition – I just thought it sounded cool).

To refocus is something I would like to highlight as our past patterns and values may need adjustment. Our new chapter may need a different approach than we used to have. We may need to adopt a new culture. This will impact my use of time and prioritization of energy. It takes courage to recognize and embrace these changes. Regardless if it’s just the natural spring transition, or a seasonal life change, you can enjoy the “in-between” time and be ready for those spring flowers just ready to grow.

I trust you will enjoy this month’s paper and stay engaged with your community.

We want to thank the many people who write and contribute the various community updates and articles on a regular basis. As we don’t rely on any government funding, your financial support is and has been appreciated in order to provide the not-for-profit organizations an effective means of reaching their community.