Divorced. Single mom. No job. No plan. Starting over at 37.
Have you ever taken a look at your life, and wondered how you ended up in your current situation?
Life has a funny way of shaking you. The shake rattles you, leaving a void in its wake. A haunting and silent void of the dreams you once had. A grieving takes place in that silence. But something else lies in the recesses, if you're brave enough to face it. The shake, as daunting as it seems, is a refining force. Its aim is to remove everything in your life that is holding you back. It is here you will find your potential and your purpose. Within the void there is nothing but yourself. The purest essence of who you are, and what you're made of exists only in this space. Lean in and you will meet your truest self.
This is not an easy choice. Continuing on even when you have lost your taste for life. When the path ahead is unclear and you are left with nothing but questions. When the dreams you once held have turned to rubble. Surviving the shake up takes grit. It takes choosing yourself. And believing that you have what it takes to withstand it. You will come out the other side, bruised and battered, but alive. A little bit stronger and wiser. With a knowing of self that is rooted in the foundation of hardship. Poised and ready for the next time that life shakes you.
Not everyone is able to survive the shake. Some choose the wasting. Some choose to settle. Some choose to end it all. But, others allow it to accomplish what it's intended to. To disintegrate everything in your life that does not align with your purpose. What you do with the shake is a test of your essence.
I'm in the midst of a shake up. And the question remains. What am I made of?
This is the conundrum that plagues all of humanity. And all must answer its call.
Will you rise above the trials of life? Will you choose thriving over merely surviving? Neither path is easy. Both offer their fair share of challenges. But only one leads to joy.
The trail markers of thriving are joy and gratitude. And the markers for survival are bitterness and resentment. These trails do not run parallel to one another, rather they weave and intersect. And at any point on your journey you can find yourself on either trail. I find when life is going well, I easily trek along the trail of joy and gratitude. But when a big shake occurs, I catch myself drifting into bitterness and resentment. I am not proud of this. In this weakened state I am tripped up by an overgrowth of intrusive thoughts. Fear and shame abound. It becomes difficult to see the destination, let alone the next step. This is why we aren't meant to do life alone.
The measure of a person's character is dependent on which path they choose when life gets hard. And who you bring with you makes all the difference. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by people who love me. They meet me on the path of misery. Allow me to show up exactly as I am and help untangle the knots of bitterness and resentment. Their love gently guides me back to the path of joy and purpose.
This is what life is all about. Finding purpose and connection. Standing strong regardless of what life throws at you. And, always finding your way back to the path of gratitude.
