I was either told once or read it somewhere that we go through life changes every seven years, on average.  That's all I remember about it.  I can't remember if it was positive changes, negative, or what.  I'm also not sure if it referred to certain types of changes, i.e., financial, family, etc.  

As I look back on the changes in my life thus far (and here I'm only thinking of the "big" ones) and try to piece them together I wonder if it does follow such a timeline.  

I would imagine for many it is their job history, additions/subtractions to their family, financial changes, that sort of thing.  And so that is what I based mine on as well.  And, looking back, I think they're right.  I have had ups and downs throughout my life and I guess on average it has been about every seven years.  Some were pretty close together.  Others were pretty widely spaced.  

When you think about it, every seven years amounts to about 10 changes in the average lifespan, give or take.  So as long as most of the changes are ups and not downs that isn't so bad, huh?  I think for the most part mine have been mostly up, I guess.  And how exciting to know that in about X number of years something's going to happen.  Scary, yeah.  But if life isn't a little scary then what?

I write this because I'm about to make another one.  A big one.

After nine years (the longest job I've ever had) I am leaving my current employer and venturing out into the unknown.  As they say, I've done what I could at Montage Hotels & Resorts.  It was an amicable separation and I will take with me wonderful memories.  The beautiful hotels....Beautiful.  Warm, friendly people and more than anything the opportunity to set up and run pastry shops at two of those properties: Montage Laguna Beach and Montage Beverly Hills.  To hire, train, and work alongside some of the best pastry people I have ever come to know.  

But life is about moving forward.  Stagnation breeds the commonplace.  Sometimes you have to.....no, check that......Always you have to push forward.  If you don't strive to break new ground you will disappear.  

And disappearing isn't an option.

So, what am I going to do?  Ahhhhh, that's a surprise.  Stay tuned.

Adios muchachos.  Au revoir mes amis.  Bye.