Our fall issue is all about transformation and change, in these past few months I’ve passed through a lot. In June I unexpectedly buried my 27-year-old son in law and witnessed as my daughter’s hopes and dreams of family dissipated. At 24 years old and a mother of two small children, just beginning her nursing career. She was not prepared to be a widow. This transition of feelings and emotions is a daily occurrence of trying to begin again and coping, to anger, frustration and wanting to give up entirely. As a mother, it is a horrific thing to watch your child suffer and not be able to heal their pain. And yet, in giving her space when she needed it, advice when she asked and hugs when she could no longer hold herself upright, I watched her, in her intense grief, continually pick herself up and take the necessary steps to move forward, live the life her children deserve and uphold the legacy of the one they lost.
In July, I celebrated my 57th birthday, As mentioned on my Facebook blog page, Girl, it’s time to focus on the sparkle, “yes, I celebrate every day as the special gift that it is but for the month of July, I embrace my purpose in this world, my presence in the lives of those I know, and I truly enjoy sharing this time to celebrate me, to the absolute fullest with others. After all, one day I won’t be here and there will be nothing more to share than memories. I guess if you look at it from this perspective: I am still ‘giving’ on my birthday. I’m making memories that will last even after I’m gone. Memories that are fun, fabulous, and unique. Like me.”
In August, my husband and I met four of our five children and all five of our grandchildren and spent a glorious weekend together as we shared what will become an annual event for our family. We created a time to share: love, laughter, create new memories and be in the space physically without interfering with their holidays or traditions, or adding to the pressure of “which parent should we visit” and so forth. We celebrated family, unity and an unencumbered weekend producing memories that will hopefully transition into an annual custom even after we are gone.
Change is often difficult, unexpected and periodically unwanted. But change also offers hope, new beginnings. Change provides a chance to start again, begin anew, see things differently and an opportunity to change your outlook or perspective. As the leaves change colors and the weather gets cooler, I encourage you to look daily at the changes occurring in your life. Let go of the familiar and embrace the new. As the saying goes, “a comfort zone is a beautiful thing. But nothing grows there” for it is in the many hues of change that we find our purpose and our direction. Remember, if nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.
stay fabulous,
stay you!
“mi”