Each year I try to think of a word that I’d like to shape my expectations for the coming new year. 2021 was supposed to be BLISS! Let me tell you that it was anything but BLISS! The biggest challenge I faced in 2021 was the passing of my mother. I wrote down my experience during her last days, and every time I tried to come back and post about it, I just couldn’t. The ability to put words into text was challenging. Since my mother’s passing, I’ve had random moments of breakdown. My community has been an integral part of my mourning process. There are unexpected moments when I’ll be someplace, and I’ll see something that reminds me of her, and it will evoke an emotion; smiling, laughter or crying, sometimes all three. Just the other day, a tv show that mother used to watch was returning from hiatus, and I thought I’d call and let her know about it, and then it hit me that she’s no longer here in the physical. I was blessed to be able to take care of her during her last days, but at the same time, it was mentally exhausting. To watch anyone die takes a toll on you, but it hits different when it’s a parent who was larger than life. During that short season of her illness, I went through many emotions. I was able to talk to her about her life experiences, and we laughed and cried during our time together. When I was a child, my mother wasn’t always present in my life. We started repairing our relationship about 25 years ago when she returned. It took a lot of healing and vulnerability. I would have never imagined that I would become her caregiver, and neither did she. At some point, I’ll post some of the conversations that we had, and they were definitely eye-opening. I learned more about her and myself during that seemingly short time. With that being said, I wanted to post before months slip away and the new year has only a few months left. Winter is always a reflective time, and I’m constantly learning and reflecting. I know this will take time, and I’m not in a rush because it will be at my pace. I learned so much during my mother’s illness, and I wanted to share some simple things that became very clear in 2021.
- Health is wealth, and should be a priority because no amount of money can compensate.
- Be present in the moment because time is a commodity.
- Make sure you curate a great community of people, they can make the difference in your every day life.
- Find something that makes you happy, it could be as simple as a walk in the park or eating a good meal, or a simple treat.
- Reach out to those that you had been meaning to talk to, but haven’t spoken to in awhile. Time waits for no one.
Until we read again!!!
womenofacertainage 