My son and I recently took a trip to visit family in central Indiana. It’s about a 5 hour drive by car. I can make the trip solo and handle all the driving. But Jarod enjoys sharing the driving, which works just fine for me. I’m able to snag a little nap and he’s able to do the same, when we’re not behind the wheel of course.

At yoga today, the instructor suggested we pay attention to Transitions during class–that moving from pose to pose is just as important as the pose itself. What an intriguing concept. I must admit that I don’t typically notice much in the process when I flow from pose to pose. The instructor tells us to move to the next pose and I do just that, focusing more on what happens when I get there–on my stance, arm, leg, hip or whatever I’m stretching. The how I arrive in the pose isn’t something I really pay attention to…

Honestly, I don’t think I’m too far off base if I suggest that many of us are more focused on getting TO the next thing than on HOW we get there. I mean, the drive on the freeway is a means to an end. It’s how we get to the place we want to be. I’m focused on getting to my destination. I watch the mile markers as they go from higher numbers to lower ones, indicating I’m nearing the exit and “almost there.” Oh, I pay attention to my speed and the mileage to the next rest area. But, the drive hasn’t been my favorite part of the trip, at least not until recently. Today, I recognized that “the drive” was actually another example of a Transition, and I was missing out on some good stuff that I could instead savor along the way.

On the trip to Carmel, Jarod and I talk. We debate ideas, share concerns or thoughts, play music and discuss songs or artists we enjoy. Sometimes he works on his computer and shares updates about work or things he’s doing. During those 5 or so hours, we discuss all sorts of different things. It’s really a fun aspect of the trip that I look forward to more and more.

Driving along the freeway, in between Home and the Place I’m Going To, I’m learning that some pretty great conversation happens. Moments that I truly value and enjoy are created. Sometimes, that 5 hours passes before I realize it.

In January, my position was eliminated. Bring on the Job Search. Fun … NOT! How many people enjoy that process? I mean, really? Can we bypass the hassle, the applying for unemployment, the updating of the resume, the job search sites and filling out numerous applications, the scheduling of interviews, the networking, etc. and just move on to the offer, the next gig, the work, the paycheck, the routine?

No. Not how it works. If you want to find the “Next Right Thing,” you have to pay attention to the Transitions. Slow down the process a bit. Think about what you truly want to do–and where you want to do it. Notice what fills your bucket and supports your spirit. Consider what does NOT fit who you are today because, something I realized this time around, what we want and who we are in our career DOES change. Choose to apply not to everything that pops up on Indeed, Monster, LinkedIn, Career Builder etc. but to selectively identify positions and companies that speak to you. The ones that offer you something in the work that resonates with your own personal style, goals, ideals, values, and needs.

It takes a little time. You have to allow for the layoff shock to wear off before you decide where you want to go next. At least, I do, But, in the Transition, you can find strength and refined clarity. By slowing down and staying focused in the moment, I made time to reflect on what I wanted and also identify what I didn’t want. I surprised myself a bit there. As a bonus, during the additional hours I had each day, I made lists and created routines to keep myself focused and busy. I connected with friends, was available for my family to handle some day-to-day and even more urgent stuff that I might have missed had I rushed the process, and I enjoyed settling in before I rushed to get back out. Two months later, after several interviews, many conversations with people I trusted, and much introspection, I found the right fit–the next right thing for the person I am today. But, it took time and consideration.

It required me to lean in and trust the Transition.

In this lifetime, so many of us are in a rush. And when we rush, we miss the now. The typing of this blog on my new MacBook Air and the patter on the keys as I try so hard to focus a thought is just as important to me as the end result. It’s also pretty enjoyable, otherwise I wouldn’t spend the time or energy writing it.

Inhale. Exhale. Knit. Purl. Turn the page and read slowly. Notice the trees as you take a walk. Call a friend and listen to the conversation without doing something else at the same time. Make dinner and savor the preparation. Rehearse the play, and revel in the process.

Pay attention to the Transitions. The in-between moments.

Today during yoga, I moved slowly from pose to pose. I felt the stretch and the tightness. I eased myself from one move to the next. Today, I sat and listened to my sister as she spoke. Today, I petted the cat while we waited together for the vet to come in, leaving my phone in my purse. Today, I texted a friend since we didn’t have time to get together and engaged in fun banter for a few minutes. Today I typed and enjoyed the texture of the keys and the flow of thoughts from mind to page.

I invite you to join me in becoming more Mindful of the Transitions. Because, like the drive in the car and conversations with Jarod along the freeway, that’s an important part of the Adventure. Why rush the process? It takes time to get from one place to the next. Five hours to get to Indy from my house. Take a breath, instead. Discover enjoyment in each mile you drive along the highway of your life.