Fear and Transition: From the Bahamas to Canada

Transition is very rarely easy. I think this is mostly because we are creatures of habit and like to stay close to what we know. Take, for example, my transition to Canada. I came to Canada five years ago to attend University of Waterloo. It took me 3.5 hours to fly to Toronto from the Bahamas and I thought that was an extremely long flight! My transition to Canada was difficult to say the least. It wasn’t just the snow, lack of year-round sun, taxes, multiculturalism or the snow (did I say snow already?), but it was also being out of my comfort zone in a position where nothing was familiar. Was I scared? Of course not. I was terrified! I would have to learn new things, adjust my mindset and adapt to a completely different lifestyle. I had to change the way I speak (apparently quite a few Bahamian phrases are not as plain English as I thought!); the way I thought (i.e, my island mindset) and even some of the things I ate (there was no Bahamian food around!). The biggest challenge was changing my mindset. Every ten minutes (literally!) I was comparing Canada to the Bahamas – Canada very rarely comparing better or favourably. Eventually I realized constant comparisons were not helping my transition. In fact, why would I want Canada to be like the Bahamas? This was an opportunity to experience something new and different. This was an opportunity for personal growth through fresh experiences. How exciting!

Now that I have completed University of Waterloo, I once again find myself in a position of transition: I relocated from Waterloo to Toronto to work at Hazell & Associates (H&A). Toronto is quite a noisy, busy, “TTC” change from Waterloo! I have to say university life is quite different from working life. It is just wonderful to realize that H&A actually practices the transition principles that we relay to our clients – it allowed for a smoother transition for me. I have once again been given the opportunity to grow. Our transition workbook says a ‘distinguishing characteristic of accomplished and successful individuals is the way they perceive change and their capacity for managing change.’ This resonates with me. I now take a more positive approach to change. Of course the sun does not warmly shine for 350 days of the year in Canada like it does in the Bahamas! But I now see four beautiful seasons in Canada instead of just one. The beaches here look nothing like the Bahamian beaches – but then again the lakes in the Bahamas look nothing like the lakes here. Waterloo is definitely more peaceful than Toronto. But there are so many more activities and wonderful opportunities in Toronto – like working at H&A – that I would not have experienced in Waterloo.

I believe this new year, 2011, provides the perfect impetus to fully explore and embrace new transition opportunities! Yes, change is scary and exciting. Plus, I am told by Susan Jeffers, Ph.D., that fear will always exist as long as we continue to grow. And I want to grow.