“Toto, I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Kansas Anymore“, the character Dorothy Gale from the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939)
Career and Life Transitions and Getting Back to Your Version of Kansas
Growing up as a young boy I can fondly remember sitting down once a year with my parents and siblings to watch The Wizard of Oz, one of the great film classics of all time. We’d huddle around that 9 inch black and white Admiral TV set as Dorothy, her dog Toto, and her 3 new friends — The Scarecrow, The Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion — looked for a way to get back home. As I grew older and became a Dad, my wife and I would repeat that same rite of passage with our three children. Our conversations often turned to who your favorite character was and why. As a professional coach for GetFive and with my own private coaching practice Kirnan Coaching Associates, LLC, it is a privilege to work with so many clients who find themselves in transition and metaphorically are just like Dorothy waking up from a dream and finding yourself in unchartered territory:
I think that phrase — “Toto, I Have a Feeling We’re Not in Kansas Anymore” –perfectly captures how many of us feel during a major transition in our earthly journey. Some transitions are joyful and exhilarating like taking on that dream job we always hoped for; meeting a new friend, a colleague, or a mentor; settling down and starting a family with our spouse or partner; or moving to that new location. Other transitions are painful and can be unexpected like losing a family member or others close to close to us who have now received that eternal call from God; going through a divorce and moving on from those relationships which are no longer what you thought they were; separation from our loved ones who may live in places far from where you currently are and where you wished they could be; losing that job you loved and the one that you believed defines you but can no longer keep due to disruptive innovation and digital transformation in the global economy; seeing people you love struggle with depression and anxiety that can be both taxing and absolutely paralyzing; and finally, one that really hits home for me, watching a loved one struggle with frailty, loneliness, and the loss of independence as they transition to that final chapter in their lives.
I see Dorothy’s journey ll these years later a little differently than the view I had from that 9 inch TV set as a youngster. In a way, I am no different than The Scarecrow because even with my brain I want to keep growing and learning new things so I can better understand my fellow man. I am like the Tin Man who would like to have a big enough heart to help those in need where its not measured by my financial resources but in the time I can give and the talents I can share with others. And, I can totally relate to The Cowardly Lion who wants that self-confidence, courage, and that spiritual compass to face any issue that God may decide to put before us.
Often I turn to my faith through prayer and scripture to center myself for what is in front of me and what a blessing that has become. But I also like music and especially lyrics from superbly talented songwriters and musicians who I have found can really inspire me. Last week as I was finishing my long walk on the boardwalk, I think I was floating as I listened to an old Folk classic “Weave Me the Sunshine” from none other than Pete Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary fame. I find that song uplifting and one that also centers me for what lies ahead, grateful for all of life’s blessings and the opportunity to work through all of its challenges. In the end, its the light we all are seeking.
Wishing my clients, colleagues, and friends can find the way to weave the sunshine into your daily lives and be that beacon of light to those you love, Coach K
