“Once I realized that the numbness I felt was an avoidance of dealing with the fear of moving on. I was able to see the wall in front of me begin to fade. And the path that revealed itself beyond the wall became inviting.”

So now as I enter the next phase of my life – I am working on the “believing” that there is a possibility that I can have a purpose. That there is a reason I’m here and that it matters that my energy exists. So where do we go from here.

That wall of fear I’ve talked about earlier and in the quote above has begun to crack. My view has become clearer about my future. I’m still unsure of what is to come, but the one thing I know is this: God is in control and I am just along for the ride.

Fear paralyzes us to the point of numbness and takes us to a place that no one should go. No one wants to go – but we go anyway.  It holds us down and keeps us from experiencing what life has to offer.  These things I know, these things I’ve experienced – yet it has been the biggest thing I’ve had to overcome. Understanding what fear can do to your progress when you are trying to find your way out of a very cloudy and dark place – a place called grief.

What I have come to understand is this – life is for the taking. You must stand up and dust yourself off and hold your head up high. Take control of what you can and give up what you cannot control. Know that it is not the disasters in your life that pull you down, but it is your response to them that can make or break you. You can’t always control what goes on around you, but you can control how you respond to what happens.

You see – life happens. The world goes on. And we grievers, we have to move on too. I’m not saying we forget – we just have to clutch to our heart the memories and the lessons our loved ones have taught us and take that first step into our next adventure. To move toward the life God intended for us to have. To make a difference in the world. No matter where we are or what we have – what matters is that we take action.

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.” ― Mother Teresa

One of the most if influential women of our time, Mother Teresa – she said it well – smile. It’s an action of love. Pay it forward my dear friends. Give a gift that we all have, but so often do not share – then and only then will you understand why you are here on this earth.

Until next time

M