Hello Friends,
It’s been a while since I last wrote, I must admit, I haven’t had the energy to write much lately. Amidst the holidays, some traveling and a lot of personal transition in the works, I took a little break from my blog. I hope you were able to take a break from your responsibilities and get some rest and enjoy family and friends as well.
I don’t know about you, but I am embarking upon a period of pretty significant transition. I am coming up on the two-year anniversary of my mother’s passing, planning to sell the house I grew up in next month, and transitioning out of an important relationship that I’ve been in for the past two years.
All the while, trying to stay grounded, full of gratitude, and strong in my purpose.
Life as I know it, is changing again.
The question is, how will I show up through this change?
How will I deal with the grief of loss and the pain of letting go?
The image above was taken at sunset on Lopez Island, one of the San Juan Islands here in Washington State. Reflections are a true symbol of life. One side cannot be without the other. So, in translation to my life, I realize it’s time to take a good look in the mirror and be honest with myself about how I choose to show up every day. If I want my life to be filled with beauty and love, if I want to feel truly alive, that is what I must bring to the table each day.
Realistically, as I deal with my own grief and another round of loss, it can be hard to bring positive energy to the table each day. So, in those moments, I simply commit to becoming more aware – not only aware of my pain, but aware of my own tendencies and habits that bring more pain into my life. By unraveling the ways I add more pain into my life, I will touch more deeply and be better able to nurture the underlying grief that is there. I will be aware of these pain-inflicting habits, I will seek to understand thesm, and I will work to transform them. Because deeply, I know that these habits are not only increasing my suffering, they are also causing harm to those I love.
This is what New Year, New Grief means to me. A new way of approaching grief.
Next week I will be posting a blog called “Saying Goodbye to STUFF” as I wrap up the process of purging at my childhood home. I hope you have a chance to read it as I think it can apply to any life situation of letting go.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your heart with this community, on facebook and privately in emails. We are here to help each other realize the beauty of our own reflection.
Happy New Year, everyone!
~ Jess
