Changes throughout Life

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Change is a normal and necessary part of the human experience, and ultimately molds us into who we become. All change affects our lives but some changes have a more profound impact. Accepting change can be difficult and at times painful. Reflecting back, I believe that I react well to change even in adverse conditions but some changes are more challenging than others are. Eventually, life brought me to a change of necessity and those choices led me into nursing and into my future.
Dealing with change started early in life as I moved for the first time at the age of three. Throughout childhood, I moved regularly often moving to a new school in the middle of the year. Learning to fit in and adapting to new situations was a way of life. My siblings and I depended exclusively on our family unit. I can still hear my father saying, “We only have each other.” I graduated in Oklahoma City but we were already moving again, this time to California.
I began working at Edwards Air Force and met my future husband. Shortly after we married, he received orders to Japan. Living away from home was difficult; however, living in a foreign country was exhilarating. The downfall was that military life meant continual moving. I felt that I was inflicting on my children exactly what I had experienced as a child and it caused conflicts in our marriage.
Although not by choice, after seventeen years of marriage, we decided to divorce. It was the right decision, but I felt guilt over the further damage it would cause to my children. I had suffered a loss comparable to death, how would I go on and how would we survive (Sakraida, 2005)? I moved to Alabama to be with my parents, as I needed their support. I was determined that with the help...

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...mes that I felt lost. I have learned to see change (both positive and negative) as an opportunity for growth. (Mamali & Dunn, 2011) My perspective remains the same; change is a normal and necessary part of the human experience that molds us into who we will become. I will continue to learn, grow, and change. The future is wide open.

Works Cited

Mamali, C., & Dunn, R. (2011, Mar/Apr). The Intrapersonal and interpersonal of crucial experiences. Journal of Loss and Trauma, 16(2), 103-116. http://dx.doi.org/http://dx.doi.org.libproxy2.usouthal.edu/10.1080/15325024.2010.519291
Sakraida, T. J. (2005, Feb/Mar)Divorce transition differences of midlife women. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 26(), 225-249. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.libproxy2.usouthal.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=4&sid=f1bded5d-c48b-44db-9737-55f4804a0629%40sessionmgr4005&hid=4204

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