“Sometimes the changes you fear the most and the losses that hit you the hardest help you find peace, strength, and joy like you’ve never imagined possible.”

– Lori Deschene

You will never truly understand anything until it actually happens to you. Marriage, divorce, childbirth, parenting, personal injury, the death of a loved one, the loss of a friendship… theories and assumptions of situations in life are not realities. You may think you are smarter than most – until life humbles you when it’s your turn. No matter how much you learn, change, understand and grow, the people around you can only meet you as deeply as they have met themselves.

As this year comes to a close, I can’t help but to look back and reflect – not in regret, or with any angst over the things that I wish were different and can do nothing more to change, but rather, with quiet introspection and a simple observance of how things are not always as they may initially seem. With this insight, I must admit, that this year has taken its toll on us all.

Unlike previous years, I have no recap to offer, nor any resolutions for the fast approaching New Year… just this feeling of contentment as I take a deep breath and let it all go, holding on only to hope for this next year to bring with it more blessings than lessons and more love than loss.🤍

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

– Semisonic, “Closing Time”