Wow, this week’s story is a different view on how I see life as it is now. The woman in this week’s story is a single mother of four children. She is an ocean person who longs to live most of her life away by the sea. Being a single mother many uncertainties fill you up. I know this to be true as I am a single mother. Wondering how are we going to make it this month. How will all the bills get paid and food on the table and what about those unexpected situations that come up.
This single mother had raised her four children all alone, through poverty and struggles, but with lots of laughter, kite-flying and hiking in the hills above their town. She worked a job that she hated, waiting for the older three to finish high school, feeling like she was marking time while the years passed by her. She could not see the beauty that everyone else saw in her town. Her heart was at the ocean and her soul was dying in the town that she lived in.
I believe that we need to breath in our surroundings and take in the amazing view that God created. No matter where you are there has to be amazing views, trees, waters, hills, mountains, flowers, structures and so on. Life is too short to live empty, with no compassion, wanting more only to find out what you have now is enough and where you are now is amazing in of it self. For this single mother in our story her heart was elsewhere and she was dying where she was now.
Her 42 birthday was here and her sister gave her a trip to see the gray whale migration outside of Tofino on the wild, West Coast – this was her longing, a dream come true. It was a great experience for her. The ocean was serene, there were whales everywhere, and she was where she belonged. The day could have lasted forever but it did come to an end. She returned to her home town, to a job she hated, and to a persistent depression as the winter was closing in.
She decided to write a letter to the lady who had taken her to see the whales. In her letter she stressed how lucky this lady was to have such an amazing job living her dream. She also stressed to the lady that this has been her longing to live there and do what she did. Aw an open door appeared. When she went to see the whales the lady who took her told her that she would love to find someone who loved her job as much as she did so that she could have relief to enjoy more leisure time. So in this letter the single mother stressed that she just might be that person to relieve this lady.
Time went by and there was no reply back from the whale lady and so the winter went on. The single mothers eyes were deaden, the walls were closing in. She felt trapped in her life for the need to earn a living and support her kids, and loneliness – waiting for Mr. Right to come along but he never did. A break through came where she worked – she won recognition from an aware employee. She was flattered. Her employer encouraged her to take the supervisory training and apply for the supervisor position. She passed the training and won the supervisory position. For the first time in her life there were no struggles to pay the bills and put food on the table. She was making enough money to make life simple and stress free. However, she was deadened because she was not doing what she loved.
Being a single mother we strive for security, which is hard work. An opportunity of a life time came in the form of a letter from Tofino, offering her the choice that she has wanted for so long. Here she just earned the supervisory role and was making good money. Now the opportunity of a life time was here and would only be part-time paying her $6 an hour. Does she keep the security with her new supervisory position or does she go for her dream?
Well, she took the other job – went for her dream. Even though she had to take more then one part-time job to make ends meet she was doing what she longed for – for so long. For 10 years she has walked blissfully through some of the most spectacularly beautiful landscapes on the planet. She has fullness in her now, which does not compare to any amount of money she would have made at the other job. She also learned that there is no security other then what we carry within side of us. We need to stop and listen to the inner voice inside of us. There is inner wisdom inside of us and if we listen to that our lives can become enriched immensely.
Life Lesson #4 ~ Be True to Yourself
We all were created for a reason and we should be the person that we were intended to be. Why do women strive to be someone other than who they really are? We as women need to stop living through others who want us to be who they think we are. Each one of us is made unique – therefore, we must be who we are. It’s time to stop trying to be who your parents expected you to become or what your spouse, partner, or children want you to be.
During our early years we sought our identity and fulfillment in the outer world, and during the first half of your life that’s appropriate. As we mature we realize that there is so much more to life. It is time to start looking into the inner part of you.
Take a moment to sit in silence and reconnect with your essential self. Begin to listen to that still, small voice of your heart and above all, heed the wisdom of the philosopher, Diogenes: “Know thyself.”
Our work for this week is to sit and bring forth what is real and true about you. Who are you?
Have a great week!
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