As it states in my "About Me" blurb, I'm almost 44 years old. I have lived on my own, for the most part, more than half of my life now. I am currently going through a major transition in my life. There are an incredible amount of changes, some expected, some completely unexpected. As you know, I am really good with change. I welcome change. We can only discover new parts of ourselves when we encounter change.
So, in preparation for a major move, I decided to move back into my parents' home. It was practical from a financial standpoint. Plus, I am currently without any obligations other than to myself. My parents were glad because they like it when I'm "home". My father told me he was glad I was there for a while, but knew I wasn't staying.
It's been pretty cool for the most part. I have a pretty good relationship with my parents. My father doesn't say much, but we all laugh a good deal when we're hanging out at home. It was an adjustment. We have a tendency to fall back into old patterns of behavior when we're around our families. No matter how strong and independent I imagine myself to be...I find myself 16 all over again, at least part of the time.
Something unexpected has begun emerging from being back with my parents. I'm growing up all over again! This time I am discovering who I am, not who I think my parents want me to be. I also seem to be inspiring different behavior in them. We are learning how to be three adults in a house together. We are learning how to communicate as adults with one another. I find them relying on my strength more.
The thing is, I would never have the strength that I have today without the strength I received from them in the past. I reached out to someone the other day asking them to lend me some of their strength. The reply I got from them was "you're strong enough". At first I was put off by it...why aren't you more concerned about me (hello ego, nice to see you again). Then I realized they were right. I have a great deal of strength within me. I am rooted in the strength that is my birthright. My parents made sure that I knew that they always believed in me. Whatever I needed was always available, even when it was just a hand to rub my hair and soothe my soul.
And now, when faced with the challenges that life inevitably throws at you I can reach within me and connect to that strength.
You have it too my friends. At times you have no idea where it comes from. You hear stories of people overcoming great obstacles & hardships, listening in wonder, you can't believe they didn't just break down. However, in reality, you have that same strength within you. It is always at the ready when you need to draw from it. I have had to draw on it in different degrees throughout my life. However, it is now, when so many things are changing at once, that I realize that this strength was given to me a long time ago. And I am grateful everyday for it.
Time for your assignment...think back to times when you have been challenged...had to overcome a great obstacle...had to push through the pain & fear...where did you find the strength to do it? You'll say...I don't know, I just had to do it...exactly! It's right there, lying within, waiting for you to need it. Without needing to dig down deep to find it, your strength was at the ready at exactly the moment that you needed it. Remember that the next time you think you don't have the strength....of course you do...you're strong enough...what a joyful discovery!
Joyfully yours,
Robyn
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