For various reasons people who have always been there decide to move far away, or businesses that you’ve frequented and enjoyed for years are closing. Long-standing friendships take on a new shape or end, and everything is suddenly different.

That’s been happening to me this year, and it’s thrown me for a loop.

Part of it is the Covid pandemic and the way we’ve all had to modify how we function, and part of it is that everyone needs to live their own lives, and sometimes that flows into mine and sometimes it flows away from mine.

Whatever the reason, things are changing and what I used to be able to count on is no longer there.

Now my challenge is how to adapt to the new reality and figure out who I am as I navigate the new beginnings.

This is tricky, because I’m still grieving the endings. However, I know I can adapt and create a new norm for myself. I can appreciate the time I had with the people and places that meant so much for so long, and cherish the memories as I now focus on all the wonderful people and things that are still here.

I understand that endings are a loss, and when we experience a loss, we also experience the feelings associated with grief. So, I know when I feel sad, confused, angry, forgetful, depressed and lost, I’m right where I should be in the process of letting go and adapting to a new norm.

I have complete faith that my new norm will be as great as the old one was, and am excited to see what it will look like.

In the meantime, I’m allowing myself to grieve for a bit, and continue finding the joy in all that is still here.

Sandy Abell is a best-selling author, life and business coach, speaker, and Licensed Counselor. She specializes in working with professionals, entrepreneurs and people dealing with life transitions, and is the author of the Amazon bestseller Feeling Good About You and Moving Up to Management for New Supervisors (both available on Amazon.com). Please visit Sandy on her website at Inside Jobs Coaching Company to check out her books and free resources, and sign up for her Free Newsletter.