Graduation Milestones

Photo by Joan Kwamboka on Unsplash

Today is a day to celebrate!  My daughter is graduating from high school and moving on to the next chapter in her life.  While I am so excited for her, it signals a shift in my role as a parent.  It's a time for her to explore who she wants to become as a young adult, and make her own choices without a heavy parental perspective, and my opportunity to let go and give her the space to become the person she's meant to be.

Obviously, a milestone like this makes you a bit reflective around life in general.  We traditionally think about graduation from educational programs, but I wonder if there's a broader meaning that we should use for ourselves as adults (I know the dictionary doesn't necessarily agree with me).

What if we are meant to graduate to the next chapter in our book of life when specific experiences occur?

🎓When we leave one role and go to another, we are graduating to a new set of experiences that will help us grow.

 🎓When we leave any relationship, we are graduating to the next set of people we are supposed to surround ourselves with to keep learning and growing. 

🎓When our kids leave our household, we graduate to a new role as parents.

My definition may not resonate with you, but it's helping me think about my next chapter as my daughter graduates to her next chapter.