🍁 Change 🍁What is it about the word "change" that is so daunting? To me, I think that the word change is similar to entering into unknown territory. With change we really don't know where life will take us next. There are the times when we will encounter small less intimidating changes and then there are the times when our lives seem to have been turned upside down with a sudden unexpected change. Never the less...They're all changes. I encountered the biggest change I had ever experienced in my life on October 20,2019. My identical twin sister, Yolande, passed away after a long brave battle with cancer. During my life as a twin, I remember people asking me what it felt like to be a twin. My answer was always, "I don't know any other way of describing my twin-ship.I've never not been a twin...." When people saw us together they could see identical features, mannerisms and voices. Yet, we were mirror twins which meant that we were in many ways very different. Yolande was more scientific and I'm more creative. Fast forward to now and I am very well aware of how it feels having been a twin and the feeling of not being a twin any longer...It's like losing a part of you. A part that was with me for 68 years...not to mention the time we spent together being created in our mom's womb. It hasn't been easy accepting this change in my life. There are times when I just want to pick up the phone and tell Yolande about some wonderful news about Dagger's life or just get in the "DogVinci" mobile and visit her with Dagger. Then I realize that she's not here any longer. Miraculously, many moments during these empty times, I feel her presence overwhelm me. I feel a sense of peace which enters my body. I can picture her saying to me, "I'm okay...if you're okay💕" That's how we always coexisted. If one of us was stressed and hurting the other felt it. I think that's why I feel at peace with her "new life" in Heaven with the Lord. I know that she's okay which makes me feel okay. I've learned that the way we accept change in our lives is up us. We can become depressed and let the change take over our very existence. OR we can rise above these feelings of depression and exchange them with words and feelings of hope and good vibes. It also helps to know that change is a normal occurrence. We are constantly changing and growing. Change is normal. Whether it's losing someone we love or changing our style of clothing. Change is a part of life. How we cope with the small and large changes in our lives is paramount to our wellbeing. Whether we like it or not... Good or Bad...change is going to happen. Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, wrote in her Blog that change can affect our wellbeing and stress level. She says that, "With nearly every kind of change, stress is part of the equation. Trouble is, when you’re stressed, the pillars of healthy living – eating well, exercise, sleep and social time – tend to fall off your priority list. A better approach is to navigate tumultuous times with these six tips. "6 Strategies For Coping With Change 1. Plan ahead. If you know change is on the horizon, do some prep work... 2. Reframe your thinking. Figure out what's going on in your mind when you're feeling sad and break negative patterns. ... 3. Take time to reflect. ... 4. Strive to maintain some normalcy. ... 5. Create some comfort. ... 6. Count your blessings." (1) "Fortunately, there are ways to adapt to change, and even to take advantage of it. 🍁Find the humor in the situation. ... 🍁Talk about problems more than feelings. ... 🍁Don't stress out about stressing out. ... 🍁Focus on your values instead of your fears. ... 🍁Accept the past, but fight for the future. ... 🍁Don't expect stability."(2) I would add that change can help us see things in a different light. We learn and grow as change occurs. I know that, no matter what, change can make us stronger and braver. Everyone has his or her own way to cope with change. Please share with me your ways of coping with change in your life below. In the meantime, as our lives change and grow, may we always look for the positive in every change taking place and learn from the change that we experience. Yes, change can be daunting and at times very scary. However, change can also be a wonderful thing when we open our minds and hearts to the opportunities that await as each change occurs.. May you welcome all of the changes that occur in your life with an open mind and heart. And may you grow and learn from each change. Happy Tales to you, xoxo Yvonne
 Yolande and I circa 2017
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