“So what are you gonna do about it?”

My mom would always ask me this question when I complained about the hardships and injustices that surfaced at various times in my life. She would always ask the question at the perfect time — after I had my ugly face cry or vented my anger. It was her way of telling me that it’s okay to feel sad, confused or frustrated — but to descend into despair (she called it “wallowing”) is not an option.

Her question was a reminder that life will ebb and flow whether we like it or not. Change is inevitable. It is the end of one thing, but the beginning of something else. Endings give us permission to begin again. To create life anew. And yes, it will be a different life than the one we knew. How will you be in your new life? Who will you be? You get to decide. There’s a kind of magic in the way that endings invite us to assert our own inner power.

Now that she has joined the ancestors, Momma still whispers the same question to me, inspiring me to share and explore what they mean at a time of immense change occurring within ourselves, our families, our communities and nations across the globe. Many of us sense that we have reached the end of an era and stepped in a new world that is unknown and honestly, kind of scary. We’re also living in an exciting time. Endings often force us to ponder and explore the things that truly matter in our lives. What do we really need to live a healthy and joyful life? Many people are finding that the answer is not exactly what we’ve been taught.

Change is inevitable. So what are you gonna do about it? I invite you to lean into the shifting tides and join me in exploring the many ways to experience the magic of endings.