I write this blog
feeling grateful. Grateful for this experience. Grateful for the
doors that have opened for me already and for the ones that I know
will continue to present themselves. Grateful to god who continues
to guide me, support me and give me the courage to move forward and
explore my surroundings and my “self” despite my fear and
insecurities. Grateful to have found such amazing people to support
me in my life, to push me (sometimes shove me), to guide me, to
listen to my fears, my stories and my dreams, to love me despite any
and all insecurities and imperfections and finally to open their
hearts and souls for me to know and understand the more fragile and
intricate parts of their lives.
The decision to
make this journey happen has brought so many blessings to my life,
but none more endearing than to bring awareness of who I am in the
lives of the people I love. It seems rare, to have told to you so
openly, what you really mean to others and how you have impacted
their lives. As I prepared to leave I shared emails, phone calls,
tears, laughter (and a few drinks) with people who I value
tremendously. In these conversations my heart was blessed to “see”
the reflection of who I was to these individuals. Be it from “my
kids”, my friends and all those who I consider my family (I hope
you know who you are), their genuine words of love, kindness and at
times “raw” emotion that has been shared with me (and continues
to be revealed), fills my spirit with a sense of warmth, humility and
pride. These feelings and reflections are forever engraved upon my
soul.
When I think of
how and why I would
be blessed with such an experience of love, I am reminded of a
journal entry I wrote (after watching a…get this…Oprah episode) a
while back and continue to read as a reminder of how I want to choose
to walk through life.
I wrote: “by
merely living your life, overcoming obstacles with grace, gratitude
and growth and standing up for what you believe in, you not only give
yourself a voice, but you give others permission to do the same. You
allow them opportunities to continue walking the path that you helped
to pave…we all have the possibility to be ‘legends in the
making’; we must love hard, follow our passions, dare to dream,
stand strong and gently touch those who are destined to cross our
paths. We must purposely live our life with intention.”
Thank you for who
you are to me…the words I write, so poorly reflect those that are
in my heart….
