Who Moved My Cheese?

At the beginning of each new calendar year, I always read the kids' version of the book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" to my 6th graders. It's a great way to start off the new semester and get them thinking about the adventures of junior high and high school that is just around the corner. There are four characters who are challenged to deal with change as they go through the maze searching for their beloved cheese. Sniff and Scurry find it challenging and exciting every time they are faced with an empty cheese station. They are positive that the new cheese they find will be better than the old. Hem and Haw (6th graders don't know what about this pun) are reluctant and they wait for the old cheese to return to them. Haw finally realizes that he is silly to think that the old way of life will return, so he cautiously begins his search by himself. Eventually he realizes that change is inevitable, he becomes energized with possiblity and he catches up with his friends. Hem stays lonely, stale, and angry. He wastes away waiting for his dreams to come to him while he remains safe in his comfort zone.

As I read the story, I saw myself in the role of Haw. I have always been a little afraid to leap without a safety net. I love Jason Maraz's lyrics in his song, "Make It Mine." The lyrics are inspiring. He writes, "Wake up everyone........Listen to your voice, the one that tells you to taste past the tip of your tongue, leap and the net will appear."

I am grateful that I took my first leap when I met my husband. We married 4 weeks after we met. We've been married for nearly 40 years now. He has rebounded countless times with career changes, family issues, fatherhood, the economy. I don't have to tell you which character he is most like. I have to admit it's been scary at times. The first time I read the adult version, the question that profoundly effected me was this: "What would you do if you weren't afraid?" I realized that living a safe life would lead to regret at the end of my life (thanks to Stephen Covey who asks his readers to start with the end in mind). And so my journey began. Grad school, voice lessons, new career. Looking back, things got very safe in our empty nest. I started taking guitar lessons, but it wasn't until we moved back to Pleasant Street that I understood what Haw learned. Taking a risk is what feels good. Even though I have internal conflict about multigenerational lifestyle, I wouldn't want it any other way. It challenges me to look at myself and how I want to be treated when I am in my 80's. My husband and I enjoy the challenge of keeping our relationship intimate and alive. Recently, we made up our internal age: we feel like we're 37 most of the time. While recording our song last month, when we were harmonizing and having the time of our life, I whispered in his ear, "Today, we are 27!" And so, as I move forward on this journey, I will take the advice of my roomie, my mother, who gave me the best advice for turning 50: "The best is yet to come!"