Change

Maya Angelou has been quoted as saying, "If you don't like something change it. If you can't change it change your attitude. Don't complain." So, there are several areas in my life I'd like to see change active and alive in. Honestly, what I have to admit is that I don't want the discomfort or work that often accompanies the process of change. I've spent the last few months in anguish because of all the change I'm experiencing in my professional and personal life. My daughter is changing from a sweet little passive doll to an opionated independent little girl. My responsibilities at Breakthrough have expanded from oversight of just our Women's Shelter and Outreach Program to include supervision of our Men's Shelter as well. As the new Director of Interim Housing I am splitting my work week between our two locations. The lengthy drives and increased use of gasoline have caused me to respond with extreme emotion. Not that anyone would expect anything different from me. My daughter's drama queen like behavior was certainly inherited. During one of my particuliarly emotional days God allowed me the opportunity to be sobered by one of our guests. She totally dethroned me without ever realizing she had done so. I entered the Joshua Center in the late afternoon still fuming over the unexpected traffic on Lake Shore Drive I experienced after leaving the Men's Center. Before I could get to my office and put my things down I was met by one of our guests who had moved a few days prior into one of our supportive housing units. She wanted to make sure that I knew she had moved. She shared with me how good it felt to leave her things in one place. She talked about the meals she was planning to cook and the plans she had for her future. I realized she had just given me the opportunity to change my attitude. I decided to do just that!