transitions are hard.

When giving birth, the "transition" phase is the most difficult. This is what I found at: http://www.birthsource.com/scripts/article.asp?articleid=228

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Transition is the most difficult phase of labor for most women; however, it is also the shortest phase generally lasting ½ hour to 1½ hours in length.

Physically, mom is experiencing contractions 2-3 minutes apart, lasting 60-90 seconds, and are very strong in intensity. Contractions may even "piggy-back" which means one contraction may start to fade away and another one comes along immediately. ..

Emotionally, mom can become restless, irritable, discouraged, and confused. She may find that she focuses inward as she works with her labor. She may have a hard time communicating her wishes. This is the point in labor when she usually needs the most support...

Remind her to take one contraction at a time and not to give in to the panicky feelings. If Mom Panics: call her by name, take her face in your hands, develop and maintain eye contact, breathe with mom or talk her through the contraction, try variations in breathing patterns, and give lots of reassurance that she is near the end!

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If we read "contractions" as "extreme and sometimes involuntary exertions" this may be read as description and advice for transitions of all types.

Transition is, indeed, the most difficult type of work. But there is no getting around it- in order to change, grow, move forward, one must go *through* the transition. It would be nice if this intense phase was also the shortest, but I am not convinced this is the case.

And the waves of effort and exertion- the contractions- often DO seem to piggy-back, one on top of another. Just now, as I am trying to push past my feelings of ownership and rejection of my theater troupes, of my university teaching position, I am also feeling the pressures of family responsibilities to my children- not yet settled or secure, for whom I ache- and to my mother, for whom I am now (in October of 2011- it is taking me a while to write this post) the primary caregiver.

I do find that I am irritable, restless, discouraged, confused. I have a hard time communicating my wishes - you bet- and I keep losing focus- where am I headed? When will this end?

And yes, I could use a lot of support just now.

I hope I can remember to take just one contraction at a time, and have faith that something new and wonderful awaits- in just a little while, if I can just keep pushing through...