On The Way To Happy

Wow! My twenty-two year union dissolving was tougher than I had ever imagined. At times, I thought I wouldn’t be able to survive and redefine who I am. But, with time, I have realized, I will.

Today, however, I am humbled and my heart goes out to another. I did not have to announce the break up my marriage in the public eye, as Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger are currently sharing with the world. My “transition” or as I refer to it as a redefining of self, has been the slow progress and development of the writer within due to the encouragement of so many that have pushed me to continue writing. While Maria does not have the same situation in which I find myself, as she is an already proven author, she may however, be struggling like so many of us in our more mature years, in finding a new focus for her life. Time feels more fragile in our 40’s, our 50’s and beyond. We sometimes fret trying to figure out precisely what it is, that is to be and what we want to discard from our self-image from being a partner to a spouse for so long. Time and reflection along with open dialogue are what it takes to hone into what really matters in our heart and nourishes our soul. She, in that respect, is no different from anyone else.

I’m not naive here. I realize and agree that her name recognition may open many doors for her, her previous professional experience is stellar and would likely allow her to consider any of many options that most of us would envy. But understand, she truly is no different from you or me in that she has the heavy burden and obligation to figure out what it is, that she wants to do at this stage in life. Augmenting one’s “title’s” has always been a topic of confusion. We like the rhythm of the way our life flows and we resist change. This is nothing new. But, reaching out and finding support and ideas from others has never been easier due to the internet and social media. Hence, the reason for my blog.

We can all pay a physician to help us or a career counselor to advise us, but often what seems to work best is finding those that have similarly dealt with upheaval, joy and change but did so, gracefully and with great satisfaction. That is why I am blogging. That is why I am here. I have had countless friends, family members, acquaintances, colleagues, professional peers and the like, continuously pushing me to write on how I live my life with the ups and downs I’ve faced, the change that has always defined my life and the manner in which I have always seemed to evolve to be a better person than I was the moment before I embarked on the next issue in life. I think, without sounding arrogant, I have survived remarkably well and am content. But, make no mistake, I am always learning, amending, adding to, deleting, and contemplating various ways in which to handle life’s journey. There are no right or wrong answers when it comes down to the nano particles. Community and experience is what usually works best. How have you faced crisis in your life? Did you ever feel hopeless, scared or lost? Did time and reflection help? It’s an interesting question for this community here.