In a poignant moment captured at my final EY team meeting before retirement

In a poignant moment captured at my final EY team meeting before retirement, an ex-colleague shared a photo that left a lasting impression. Her accompanying note emphasized how I remained fully engaged until the end despite the inner turmoil I grappled with.

As I sat, absorbed in the presentation deck, I wrestled with unspoken emotions, guarding against revealing the pain that weighed heavily within. Little did my colleagues know I was about to embark on a significant career and life change.

For years, during my days at EY, I followed a predictable rhythm. I knew my role and purpose and found comfort in the familiarity. It felt like a second home, and I took pride in my work.

But then, life intervened, as it often does. Unforeseen circumstances and multiple personal crises forced me into retirement earlier than anticipated. Life's curveballs and unexpected turns had disrupted my path, challenging everything I once knew to be true.

It was disorienting when the next step seemed to be to the right, only to be redirected abruptly to the left. It was disheartening to reach what was expected to be a new junction only to find a dead end.

Sometimes, life demands a pivot—a shift, a turning point that propels us down an unforeseen path. Making that pivot isn't always easy. Change can be terrifying, yet it often brings extraordinary possibilities and unexpected beauty. The other side of change holds the essence of life that inspires and moves us in ways we never imagined.

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Change can be liberating, but it can also be accompanied by fear. Both emotions can coexist and be acknowledged. Embracing change doesn't mean you can't mourn what you left behind. You can recognize that the new direction is the right move and still yearn for what you thought was meant to be.

It's natural to change careers and miss the familiar comfort of the one left behind. You can find joy in caring for ailing loved ones while feeling frustrated about the opportunities that had to be relinquished.

You can hold loss and hope in both hands without choosing between them.

That moment in the meeting and the emotions I was processing unfolded many valuable lessons:

• Cherish the moments that mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

‍• Sometimes, strength is not about hiding your emotions but acknowledging them while staying committed.

‍• Life can throw unexpected challenges your way. Embrace the resilience that comes from facing them head-on.

‍• Life is unpredictable, and sometimes, it demands us to adapt to new circumstances.

‍• Life's path may not always be linear, but it's filled with valuable lessons.

‍• It's okay to feel fear in the face of change; courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to move forward despite it.

‍• Embrace the complexity of your emotions during times of change.

‍• Trust in your ability to navigate the challenges that come your way.

‍• Progress is often found by taking one step at a time, even when the path is uncertain.

Life is full of unexpected pivots and turns. Embrace the change, honor the past, and continue the journey.

Don't let the fear of change prevent you from venturing down an unexpected path. Remember that there is purpose in every twist and turn, every peak and valley.

It's okay to pause, regroup, and take time to find your footing as you lean into the pivot.

Remember to keep moving forward, embracing the journey that unfolds before you.

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