Seeing Hidden Blessings and Possibilities with Fresh Eyes

"Every difficult task that comes across your path

 -- every one that you would rather not do, 

that will take the most effort, cause the most pain, 

and be the greatest struggle  -- brings a blessing with it."   

 - L. B. Cowman

In my book, Moving Forward with Bold Uncertainty, I learned the valuable lesson to not fear the storm that roared into my life. Yes, all around me the storm raged. As I was buffed and tossed around, 

I came to understand that this storm was trying to catch my attention. It was trying to teach me something -- to look for the calm within its center. Every storm has a center of calm holding possibilities and blessings for us if we are bold enough to see them.   My storm was challenging me to see those opportunities and new directions. It wanted me to uncover the bold possibilities it holds to move me forward towards a more peaceful and meaningful life. 

"Hope is that thing inside us 

that insists despite all the evidence to the contrary, 

that something better awaits us 

if we have the courage to reach for it

 and to work for it and to fight for it." 

 - Barack Obama

For me, hope is that one essential foundation I hold onto that instills in me the courage to keep going. Through my times of being overwhelmed, deep inside I still knew that my life going forward was going to offer me something better, even though I had no idea what that was going to look like. I never gave up on that hope. It propelled me to want something better for myself, to gain the courage to go after it, and the boldness to fight to make it my own.

"As you look back on challenges you have experienced, 

you realize that many of them were there to help you get back on track. 

There was something you needed to change, 

some aspect you needed to develop, 

or something you needed to learn."  

- Will Bowen 

There were lots I needed to learn and to change. I had to face my own fears of not being good enough and not feeling like I had a place to belong. Those challenges and difficulties taught me to sit myself down, look at myself, and figure out what I needed to change. To heal those fears and to develop confidence in who I am and that I can belong anywhere I go. Those challenges put me back on track to a life where I am free to be myself, to like myself, to see that I am enough, and that no matter where I go, I can belong.

". . . reimagine the possible 

by stretching ourselves to see 

beyond the realities of our current circumstances 

and daring to dream something different into being." 

- Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation, Aug. 20,2024 

When I first closed the door to the rental townhouse I moved into during the year of separation, I had absolutely no idea I would ever end up where I am now. After settling myself down and dealing with all my emotions and questions, I realized I wanted something else for myself beyond my current circumstances. I wanted a life where I could feel safe, secure, loved, and respected. One where I could reintroduce fun and gain back the enjoyment I had with my photography and my crafts. I forced myself to reimagine what that life could look like. I dared to dream. And guess what? That dream did happen! Surprising even myself, I was bold enough to make something different come into being. And that's where I am now!