I looked at my tree this morning. Its leaves are turning and it won’t be long before I have to spend hours raking up the fall. I thought back to sitting in the same spot almost a year ago. I was feeling devastated at the time and then I looked up at the tree and it told me a story. It was a story of how we are often stripped bare by events in our lives. But it also told me a story of ‘rebirth’ and hope for the future.
As I gaze at my tree now, I’m reminded that we’ve both survived another year. We’re stronger because of it. We’ve learnt a lot over the past 12-months. We’ve both shed ‘leaves’ that were dragging us down. In their place we grew new stronger ‘leaves’ to sustain us on our journey of life.
I don’t know what the universe has in store for me over the next 12-months. But whatever it holds in store I feel it will be better than the year that has just gone. And, the past year has been positive in helping me rebuild my life. I am stronger, healthier and mentally better prepared. I’ve learnt it takes time to heal and to rebuild your reserves to take us forward. Something I read this morning. “The march of providence is slow; it is the devil who always hurries.” I think there is a lot of truth in that.
We need to take time to recover and it’s only two years and five months to the day since Richard died. I’ve learnt not to be so impatient and not to place unrealistic expectations on myself. I’ve learnt we need to give ourselves time to grieve. Most important of all I’ve learnt to open up and share because in sharing I’ve helped others and in turn they have helped me. So now, I wonder what my world will look like this time in 2019. I can’t wait to find out. I’ll just ignore the birthday.
