Forgive the Truisms

On a warm, sunny, morning walk yesterday, I was pondering clichés -- how we roll our eyes and get chastised for using them, but how true they are! Time heals all wounds...what doesn't kill you makes you stronger...things happen for a reason...time flies when you're having fun....life is two steps forward, one step back, and one of my favorites -- everything happens for a reason. All of these, and then some, have described my last couple of years.

In the last twelve months, I have gone from being physically challenged and partially immobile, to living a fairly normal physical life. I left my Florida home of eight years to move to a state I had never even driven through, let alone visited. I put my trust and faith in the feeling that a fresh start in a new place would be life changing and exciting, and it was, on both accounts.

I sold a house, lived in an apartment, bought another house, had two cars decide to conk out and bought a new one. Barney-dog get a tick in the face and fought horrible infections for months, and of course, just as we were settling in to our dream home, my husband Ken died. All hell broke loose, in every manner of speaking, for about three months thereafter, and then the reality of my situation set in. So many decisions to be made -- a blank page, a new beginning I could have never anticipated.

As I processed and time healed my wounds, I started seeing the light at the end of the tunnel and peace crept in. Once solace found a place in my heart, I found myself being drawn back to my home, to the beach in Florida. I was feeling the tug on my heart strings and an amazing thing happened on the way to the dance -- I found love again, in the place I was being drawn to by invisible strings. Everything happens for a reason has been a steady theme throughout my life, in hundreds of ways -- and once again, it holds true.

Being back where I belong, with a love that makes me feel more blessed every moment of the day, just confirms that we never know why things happen at the time, but I guarantee, if we look back, there was a guiding light that led us through the darkness and into the next joyous or graceful moment.

I may not understand the "why" of the wild challenges I've faced over the years, but I do know this -- if they hadn't happened, I wouldn't be where I am right this moment. I wouldn't have the faith and deep appreciation for life that has strengthened with every obstacle; I wouldn't have the level of compassion that I now have for people who are hurting physically and emotionally, and I wouldn't be as patient with myself. 
 
Nobody gets through this life without trials; who would we be without them? I would not have the amazing memories and eternal friendships that have been made throughout this journey without those challenges. There are times it seems we take two steps forward and one step back and find it's about learning to dance in the rain. I venture, if we look around us, we'll always see our loved ones dancing alongside.

God Bless

PS : Forgive the piece on clichés -- it shows "lack of experience as a writer", yet they prevail in our language for some reason...