The Necessity of Transformation

 So, it has been a rough several years. Within the last 10 years my father, mother, step-father-in-law, a cousin (younger than me), and many members of my wife’s extended family have all died; we’ve also had two pets die in the last 5 years; my wife and I have gone to an “empty nest” state, watching our daughter get married and son move overseas; and, of course, COVID-19 hit, causing some financial hardship in the early part (who would have thought that my hours would be reduced when working in front line healthcare in the middle of a global pandemic!), and plenty of stress, despair and frustration as time has progressed. I have let myself go, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually and socially. I have not been happy or joyful. I have been sad, depressed and anxious. I have lost tolerance for physical activity and gained a lot of weight. My eating patterns have not been healthy, to say the least. I have been crippled by grief, of which my father’s death was the most painful blow, and only now am starting to come out of it.

It is time for a change. This will be the record of my attempt to transform, and my struggles and progress in turning things around. Over the next few weeks I will be preparing, making plans and getting ready for a start date of Monday, March 7, 2022 to begin the transformation process in all of the major spheres of life - physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and social. This date is also the beginning of Great Lent in the Eastern Orthodox Church, a time of repentance and purification. Fitting, I thought. A new path lies ahead.