Starting over
and embracing a new beginning...
“Every sunset is an opportunity to reset. Every sunrise begins with new eyes.”
For some people, it can come suddenly and seemingly out of nowhere…while for others, it takes a longer path…years…sometimes many years…
The life you worked so hard for and planned for disappears in literally a moment…and you must learn to emerge as a completely different version of yourself.
You find yourself immersed in grief, as if someone has actually died. Yet obviously no one has died but the heartache you feel, reminds you of that same feeling…
And that grief is very real. You cannot ignore it..It will not go away…at least, I am told, not for a while…
There are losses - family members, friends…people who have been a part of your life for the last 25 years you were together…suddenly they are not there anymore and you feel an emptiness…
You end up spending days, weeks, months…creating a totally new existence…and picking up the pieces along the way…
And if you are blessed, you have others who are helping you with those pieces…Reminding you of your value…giving you hope for the days ahead…
Still you find yourself looking back and remembering all of the challenges but also all of the joys…so many emotions…too many to describe…
You also find yourself thinking, “Others have come and gone and yet we were still together…still holding on…hoping to make it work…one more time…”
But there isn’t “a one more time”... not this time…
They say grief is like perfume…It smells a little differently on everyone…
I think divorce is very similar…Every person has their own unique experience but the one thing in common is the painful process of letting go and moving on…
But as with grief, what eventually follows is a new beginning…a new chapter…a fresh start…
And it is also said that you can’t start the next chapter if you keep re-reading the last one…
So I think in this case it is best for me to envision this time in my life as a book, watch myself shelving it and completely starting over and writing a new one.
As with any shelved book, it is still there when I need or want to read it again…
Perhaps that will lessen the loss and make it more bearable…I am hopeful that that will be the case…As with many things in life, time will tell…
So here’s to the next book …the blank pages await…
It’s now time to start writing them…
What do you think?
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Tranquil Moments…
I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:
Poetry that Inspires
April is National Poetry Month and in celebration I want to share poems that inspire me - Here’s this week’s poem:
Children’s Corner
Back in 1999, when I was an elementary school librarian, I started a project where I wrote letters (old fashioned, printed letters) to a variety of famous people. This was prior to the daily use of email and text messages. My questions were simple…
1) From your own life experiences, how has reading affected your life in a positive manner?
2) Was there any particular person or experience in your life that made you aware of the value of literature and the importance of reading?
I am going to share these letters and let you experience the joy many of my students (and myself) have gotten from their touching words - Here is this week’s:
This week’s Smile video…
Steve Hartman goes "On the Road" for an out of this world experience, and he's bringing his teenage son along for the ride.
#believe #smilevideos #spreadkindnessandlove
Mind/Body Connections…
This short guided 15 minute meditation for strength and grounding will help relieve anxiety and stress during stressful and uncertain times in your life. Through the simple act of reconnecting with your inner self, this easy guided meditation is perfect for anyone that is needing some positivity and peace in their life.
This week’s TED Talk
At some point in our lives, almost every one of us will have our heart broken. Imagine how different things would be if we paid more attention to this unique emotional pain. Psychologist Guy Winch reveals how recovering from heartbreak starts with a determination to fight our instincts to idealize and search for answers that aren't there -- and offers a toolkit on how to, eventually, move on. Our hearts might sometimes be broken, but we don't have to break with them.
Comedy Lift…
I love to share funny cartoons or memes with friends and family. Who doesn’t need to smile? Here’s this week’s Comedy Lift…
Music Moments
Music inspires me in many ways. Here’s one of my favorites, “The Hard Way” by Mary Chapin Carpenter...Enjoy!
Quote of the week
Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….