Anatole France
Last summer I had experienced almost one year of feeling physically good. The relief from constant pain and stiffness in my joints allowed me to take a good look at my life. What I saw was that my kids and I weren't moving forward as I had hoped we would on our homeschooling journey and in some of our friendships. In fact, I felt our current situation was draining us and preventing us from moving forward. I knew that I now had the energy to make some changes, but the changes would be hard.
Anytime we leave friendships, groups, and responsibilities that have been a part of our lives for a long period of time, it is difficult, even if you know they are no longer nourishing who you are and who you want to become. By moving forward I knew I would lose some of the friendships I had truly enjoyed years earlier. I knew I would be leaving a group that had given us so much in the past and that the three of us loved having a part in creating, but that no longer served our needs. I knew that moving forward would mean I didn't know what lay ahead for us and that was the scary part for all three of us.
Out of desperation for change, I made the decision, with the help of my kids and husband to move forward and away from the friendships, groups, and responsibilities we had held dear to us for many years. I also stood up for myself at a school I didn't like teaching at and was not asked back in January. I could no longer breath in these situations. They were holding me down and not allowing me to move forward and find the next path I was meant to follow. They were not allowing me to find the new ME. I felt scared not knowing where this path was going to take my kids or me but I knew it had to happen. Luckily, my kids did too.
I experienced a couple of lonely months trying to figure out where I belonged and how I was to find my next life path. Despite the loneliness, I knew I had made the right choice. A heaviness I had felt for some time felt lifted from my body and my heart. I knew that I had to let go of my past in order to allow new things to come into my life.
The last few weeks have been extremely busy for me and I sometimes find it hard to catch my breath. I am trying to find the balance of how to include all the good that has come my way since leaving my past behind.
- To replace the income lost from the school I was not asked back to, I began private tutoring while continuing to teach two classes at the community college where I have been for over ten years. I love it!!! It feels like I am finally helping my students in a way that I could never do in the classroom. I have time to invest in lessons that are very individualized and the results are amazing.
- I was asked to be a board member for Show Us Your Hands! This project and the people involved bring so much positive to my life.
- My family is moving ahead and finding their own paths. My husband became manager of his group about six months ago and he is finding his own strengths and strengthening his weaknesses. He has a very unique way about himself and it gives me pride to see him succeed by being who he is. Sophia has decided to go to high school next year which means the end of her homeschooling experience. I am excited for her. Her education has always been in her hands and this is 100% her decision. Alexander is considering part-time high school but only if it works within his terms. I love that he knows he has options. Both kids are busy finding out who they are as teenagers and while it can sometimes be exhausting for me, it is also amazingly exciting. I sometimes feel helpless not knowing how to help them find their path but I also know that they will. They are such great kids. I don't know how I got so lucky having the two of them.
- I have been asked to participate in a couple of other adventures that I am considering down the line and I have other ideas that I want to explore professionally, when I have time. Also, I have an idea for a book that I would love to dive into, but now isn't the time because really, I have no time.
I have always been a positive person. It seems to be my nature. I like to see the sunny side of life and it has benefited me well. I struggled for a long time knowing that I was in several situations that no longer nourished me but not knowing how to get out of them. Finally letting go has opened up so much space in my life for what I need now. The new experiences and challenges are the ME now and it feels right. Life feels good.
My older kids also left home schooling when they were high school age. Sean hated it, and returned to home schooling, and eventually, an adult diploma program (different from a GED) at the local community college. Sarah (my social butterfly) loved it, worked hard and thrived. Amy, my youngest, put herself into 5 grade this same year (I had returned to work full time). She loved academia and whizzed through school.
ReplyDeleteYour two will find their way, just as you are doing. With a fearless Mom as a role model, you can know they will succeed!
Sometimes it is plunging into the unknown that makes us recreate ourselves. This journey you are on will bring you to the place you are meant to be. Have faith.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I, too, usually think change is good. It seems like I am always making changes to who I am, how things work here in our home, etc. Usually those are just small changes, but they can make big differences.
ReplyDeleteI feel the best kind of change is deliberate -- things are evaluated and either kept or discarded. As you say, you can't make room for new things in your life if you don't "clean the closet" once in a while. Enjoy your journey.
ReplyDeleteIt takes an amazing amount of strength to make such big changes. i think that is wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteI loved this post, Cathy. It's great to hear about everything going on in your life and all the exciting changes that are happening for your kids, too. I've made some changes recently too, and I'm finding I am so much happier even though my career path is a little less certain. Change is scary, but exciting too! I'm so happy to hear you're doing so well.
ReplyDeleteI loved this post too. Such inspiration! Sometimes it is hard to trust and step ahead when we don't know what's laid out before us. I am so glad it is all working out well for you. Like they say, when one door closes another one opens. I like to think that we may not know exactly why something is happening, but good always comes of it. Sometimes it's hard to let go, but it's just a time to grow and become more of who we want to be!
ReplyDeleteI always love reading your posts and seeing your spark and positive nature :)
I left a high paying good in a corporate law firm and took a big salary deduction in order to find peace of mind and a year later, I still don’t regret it. Moving forward is always a good thing. I know what you mean about moving forward and trying to figure out where you belong. A lot of things happened to me after my brother died and I didn’t just move forward with my career, I moved forward in other areas of my life. It was definitely a lonely experience but, like you, I knew I had made the right choices. The fact is that with or without our control, life happens and not necessarily the one way we would like it to. Additionally, our kids learn to be wise and independent by watching us and they also see that anything is possible despite the struggles they face with us – as family. I always wonder and may be you do too – how did I get so lucky to have such amazing and independent kids. Maybe a part of that was chronic illness in our lives but also, and I don’t have a doubt about this, their watching me overcome so much despite obstacles. I think, even though we don’t take enough credit for this, that we set a pretty good example. :-) Good for you for finding that “feel good” place in your life.
ReplyDeleteI left a high paying good in a corporate law firm and took a big salary deduction in order to find peace of mind and a year later, I still don’t regret it. Moving forward is always a good thing. I know what you mean about moving forward and trying to figure out where you belong. A lot of things happened to me after my brother died and I didn’t just move forward with my career, I moved forward in other areas of my life. It was definitely a lonely experience but, like you, I knew I had made the right choices. The fact is that with or without our control, life happens and not necessarily the one way we would like it to. Additionally, our kids learn to be wise and independent by watching us and they also see that anything is possible despite the struggles they face with us – as family. I always wonder and may be you do too – how did I get so lucky to have such amazing and independent kids. Maybe a part of that was chronic illness in our lives but also, and I don’t have a doubt about this, their watching me overcome so much despite obstacles. I think, even though we don’t take enough credit for this, that we set a pretty good example. :-) Good for you for finding that “feel good” place in your life.
ReplyDeleteI love that moment when you realize that you keep going is to stop. The feeling of relief when you finally make the decision to leave something that is no longer nourishing you is fantastic. And on top of that, you show the kids that it is okay to follow your heart.
ReplyDeletePS I also love how positive our team is!