In middle school, my basketball coach taught the skill of pivoting. The rule was simple: keep one foot planted on the floor while moving the other to change direction, protect the ball, pass, or take a shot.
It was a basic but fundamental skill to learn. And pivoting was always one of my favorite parts of the game because it offered an options when trapped.
Recently, the concept of pivoting found its way back into my life, but this time, it wasn't presented as a basketball skill. It was a life skill.
Just as in basketball, when we feel trapped in a situation, we have the option to anchor one foot and change direction.
I think we all feel stuck from time to time. Maybe it's in a job that no longer fulfills us, a relationship that has run its course, or a life path that no longer feels right. Sometimes, we become so focused on where we are that we struggle to see the possibilities beyond our current circumstances. With both feet planted firmly in place, we can feel as though we're out of options.
But what if all we need to do is pivot?
By keeping one foot grounded in our core values, intentions, and goals, we give ourselves permission to move the other. We can explore new possibilities, gain a different perspective, and discover a direction we couldn't see before.
A couple of years ago, I chose to pivot in one area of my life, and that decision changed everything.
When It Was Time to Revisit My Own Dreams
As a mother of six children, I had dedicated the majority of my time and energy to nurturing and supporting their hobbies, sports, and dreams. Being there for them was a priority, and I embraced that role wholeheartedly.
But as my older children moved out and began living their own lives, leaving just two teenagers at home, I started to feel a familiar nudge. Perhaps it was time to revisit my own dreams.
I pulled out my life bucket list and took another look.
At the top was a goal I had carried for some time: returning to school to earn a master's degree in art therapy.
There was just one small step standing between me and applying to the program. Twelve credits hours of art classes were required, so I enrolled in glassblowing at our local university.
The idea of returning to college after more than thirty years was a bit intimidating. Still, my creative spirit was excited. I looked forward to learning the art of glassblowing at a collegiate level.
I imagined this experience opening a new door, one that would bring me closer to a dream I wanted to pursue.
Then came the first class of the semester.
Recognizing When Something No Longer Fits
The instructor walked us through the syllabus, outlining a lengthy list of expectations. The coursework was divided between learning the history and art of glassmaking and completing extensive hours in the lab, much of which required working with a partner.
As I listened, the excitement I had felt began to fade. What had initially seemed like an opportunity started to feel like another obligation.
I began questioning my decision to return to college. Was I really ready to take this on? Did I want to add another set of responsibilities to an already busy life as a mother of six?
Instead of pushing through simply because I had already committed, I paused and asked myself a different question:
Would this experience add joy and peace to my life, or would it deplete them?
The honest answer was that, at this point in my life, it would likely deplete me.
That realization gave me permission to reconsider my direction.
I didn't have to continue simply because I had started. I didn't have to prove anything by following through with a plan that no longer felt right.
So, I pivoted.
Sometimes, the Right Turn Is Unexpected
The second item on my bucket list was joining a CrossFit gym. Ironically, a gym had recently opened just a couple of miles from my home.
Instead of spending hours in a university classroom and glassblowing lab, I found myself in a gym, lifting weights, challenging my physical limits, and rediscovering a part of myself I hadn't realized I was missing.
For one hour a day, I could focus on me.
I could push myself physically, reconnect with the feeling of being strong and athletic, and enjoy the satisfaction of doing something just for myself. I also became part of a community of good people who encouraged one another and showed up to work toward their own goals.
It brought me the peace and joy I had been seeking.
Was it the original plan? No.
Did I abandon a dream? Not necessarily. I simply recognized that the path I had chosen wasn't the right fit for me at that moment in my life.
And there is a difference.
Pivoting Is Not Quitting
What I love most about the concept of pivoting is that it isn't about giving up. It's about recognizing that we have choices.
We can remain grounded in what matters most to us while allowing ourselves the freedom to change direction. We can honor our intentions without becoming so attached to a particular plan that we miss other opportunities along the way.
Sometimes, we hold on to a job, a relationship, a goal, or an expectation because we've already invested so much time and energy into it. We worry that changing course means we've failed or wasted our efforts.
But perhaps the experience has taught us something valuable. Perhaps we've discovered what we want, what we don't want, or what we need in this season of our lives.
We are allowed to use that knowledge to make a different choice.
Life is constantly changing, and we are changing with it. A direction that once felt right may no longer serve us. A dream we once pursued may take a different form. And an unexpected turn may lead us somewhere far more fulfilling than we imagined.
Just like in basketball, we don't have to lift both feet off the ground to move forward. We simply need one foot to keep us grounded while the other explores a new direction.
So, if you find yourself feeling stuck, take a moment to pause. Revisit your intentions. Ask yourself whether your current path is bringing you closer to the life you want to live.
And if it isn't, remember that you have options.
You don't always have to start over. Sometimes, you just need to pivot.
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