As I watched the Toad at his Atom hockey evaluation game, I thought about how many times kids get to start again. They start again in a new class, they start again with each new season of sports, and they might start again in a new school or in a new childcare setting. It made me wonder when the last time I started again.

As I pondered my examples of starting again I realized that as an adult not only are the opportunities to start again far less but the circumstances of starting over are often precipitated by a difficult ending. As a kid starting again in a new grade is a positive milestone – very different than starting again after the end of a relationship or being fired from a job.

The Toad is an introvert like his Momma so starting over with new people and new settings are pretty stressful. Watching him, I realized that the skill and comfort of starting again are like a muscle – if you don’t use it you lose it. This “muscle” is also a core feature of resilience, a life skill that is invaluable as you ride the highs and lows of life’s journey.

Over a cup of tea this week, I plan to inventory my world and look for a positive place to flex my start again muscle. Is there somewhere you can start again?