Saying by-Lisa Villa Prosen; Photo-Tre Le
Today on Facebook, I saw this photo posted on My Renewed Mind’s status line. The moment I saw it, my mind soared. Life’s journey has not always been easy for me; there has been intense loss, dramatic pain, and deep sadness. In truth, none of these realities have ever overtaken me for long. I have always found a way to surpass the challenges. That doesn’t mean that I haven’t suffered, it means that I have had to do a lot of work in order to become the healthy person that I am.
Many of the challenges that I have faced have been out of my control; I was forced to survive and even thrive in difficult conditions. An example is when my son was critically sick; I had to spend days, weeks, months, and even years taking care of him in all sorts of settings that were not necessarily of my choosing. Our children are never meant to suffer, but sometimes they do. During that time, I had to honor the reality that we were facing and I had travel a path that kept my son alive and yet took away every ounce of freedom I had. During the years of his illness, I couldn’t write, take walks, or explore the world around me. The gift is that at the end of his journey, I was able celebrate his life with him.
Each one of us faces challenges in our lives. Sometimes we can maneuver ourselves through the situations for a while and sometimes we are stuck. It would be great to have choices, but reality doesn’t always allow it and sometimes it takes a little time to work situations out. When I was a little girl, I had to grow up before I could leave home and become safe as an adult. When I have had struggles in my work, I have had to try to work through the scenarios before moving forward. Working through challenging relationships takes work, as does moving forward when those relationships are over. Work, friendships, family dynamics are all part of life; honoring yourself in the midst of them is about deciding what makes you soar. What do you need to thrive as a person?
For me, taking chances and letting my creative soul live is how I can be the happiest person, how I can be free. Yes, I am part of a beautiful family as well as loving friends. But in order for me to thrive with those I love, I must thrive within my own being. Writing is how this becomes possible.
In this moment, boxes surround me. I have been pushing hard since making a decision to leave Washington DC for Tucson a little more than a month ago. And I have missed taking time to write in my own space and at a moment that writing calls to me. I am doing taking the time now.
Writing,
the song of my heart;
the feeling of my soul;
the meaning of my mind;
Is what makes me One.
These words were written when I was a young girl going through hell that none of us should ever know. And today they touch me as much today as they did when I wrote them at 14 years old. These words encompass the essence of my being.
Over the coming weeks, I will be continuing a 12 part series called “Seeking My Own Path to Simchah (Happiness): My Own Personal Happiness Project” This was inspired by book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. This series will explore the ways I have learned and continue to evolve as someone who seeks simchah, happiness. The first two installments that were started before I moved to the southwest can be found:
- https://lightwavejourney.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/seeking-my-own-path-to-simchah-happiness-my-own-personal-happiness-project/
- https://lightwavejourney.wordpress.com/2012/06/06/seeking-my-own-path-to-simchah-happiness-my-own-personal-happiness-project-commandment-1-3/
May each of us move forward as individuals who strive to find our best selves; may we be free to explore our dreams and then follow our own dereckh, path to our own personal simchah, happiness.
With blessings & light,
Chava
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