WELCOME TO THE WEEK
“The people we surround ourselves with either raise or lower our standards. They either help us to become the best version of ourselves or encourage us to become lesser versions of ourselves. We become like our friends. No man becomes great on his own. No woman becomes great on her own. The people around them help to make them great. We all need people in our lives who raise our standards, remind us of our essential purpose, and challenge us to become the best version of ourselves.”
― Matthew Kelly, The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose
This Week I Ask: How do I want to live the rest of my life?
In Overcoming Hurtful Words: Rewrite Your Own Story, I speak of beginnings.
This week, I'm thinking about endings and one very critical question:
How do I want to live the rest of my life?
This question comes honestly, as I find myself looking long and hard into the mirror of not only MY life, but my mother's life. In many ways, I've been forced to do this. As my mom's primary healthcare advocate, I've spent the last 6.5 years walking her through major medical issues that forced her to lose her independence and required she live in an Assisted Living Residence.
It has been one of the hardest journeys, for both of us. After a brief visit with her on Saturday afternoon, where she got really frustrated with "how the end of her life is actually going," this looming question looked me in the face, again.
In October, I turn 60. Quite a milestone. If I live as long as my mom, I've got another 31 years+ to live.
How do I want to live the rest of my life?
This Week We Talk: What can we do today that will help us reap benefits in our tomorrow?
My mom lives for Saturday when she can go to church and dinner with her friends.
Right before I left her on Saturday, I fluffed her hair and asked her to freshen up her lipstick.
"Do I need to?" she asked. "I just put it on."
"Yes, give it a little touch," I smiled.
So, she dug deep into her purse, pulled out her makeup bag (a tattered pouch her granddaughter had brought her from India), opened her little compact mirror, and put on some lipstick.
I grabbed my camera and seized the moment.
Immediately after putting it away, she slumped and put her face in her hands.
"What's the use?" she whimpered. "What's the use?"
I let her have her moment and then rallied her to the front porch where she would wait for her ride.
I'm sure you'd agree, none of us want to see our mothers decline, either mentally or physically. We want this for a myriad of reasons, but most of all, because they are our mothers. Mothers are "supposed" to be our safest place. Our role models. Our fount of everlasting wisdom and encouragement. Our Rock of Gibraltar. Our guide through the darkest of valleys. And, most importantly, our spiritual center.
Yet, they age. Or, they pass too soon.
As my mother looked in that little compact mirror, I found myself looking into the mirror of my future. I sensed a deep well of determination rising up in me. As I drove home, I prayed that I would always remain open and flexible and willing to grow. That the greatest thing I can do today is commit to practicing the threefold-cord of emotional health: a healthy sense of self, healthy behavior patterns, and healthy communication skills.
Join This Week's Conversation: Healthy Assertiveness
There are many ways to learn more and connect (there's that word) with me and our community this week. Let's grow together. WE are sooo much better as a healthy, strong, "WE," right? That is our goal here. Here are the links to finding SHARP emotional, relational, and spiritual health TOOLS for your toolbox:
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