Life Is A Moving Sidewalk. Whenever I’m on a moving sidewalk at the airport, I think about it as being a metaphor for life. Whether or not I decide to walk on it, it keeps moving forward. When I’m not in a hurry or tired, I choose to stand in place and enjoy the ride. When I have energy, I walk along it, hurrying to my destination. Just like the moving sidewalk, the details of life keep us moving, no matter the circumstances. I think about times when I’ve experienced major obstacles that debilitated me. I think about other times when I handled a situation well–or not so well. In either case, life kept going.
life is a moving sidewalk
I hear stories of trials and tribulations where the outcome can be positive or negative. I believe we all have the choice to either stop in our tracks and delay getting any relief, or move forward managing our difficulties. As a Marriage Counselor, I help my clients acquire coping skills to do just that.
I had a woman who was not doing well in her job. Her employer tried to help her with what appeared to be a lack of motivation. She claimed she was unhappy in her relationship because she thought she would be engaged to her partner by now. Her employer gave her several weeks to make a turnaround and after many promises, the lack of progress turned into an unfortunate termination. We discussed this in counseling and I utilized my metaphor about the moving sidewalk. Life keeps going no matter what is thrown our way. You just can’t stop doing what you know you need to do. Challenges are opportunities to learn and grow. The pain and discomfort from these challenges can force us to move forward, or it can cripple us.
We all experience ups and downs, but the choices you make will help you navigate them. Getting the help you need is good self-care and a smart choice. Whether that’s relationship counseling or counseling to manage depression and anxiety, there no shame in talking to a therapist. After ruling out any physiological problems, you might even opt to try medication that assists with the counseling process. That’a decision you can make with your healthcare provider. Life is all about choices.
For more information about managing life’s stressors please contact me at (858) 735-1139.