Day 200 – November 20, 2011
“Sometimes the cards we are dealt are not always fair. However you must keep smiling & moving on.”
~Tom Jackson
So we moved. My husband still had some miles in his career and we found a company out on the “Ragged edge of the Rust Belt” that had a position to fill. We gathered our belongings, said our goodbyes and my husband got a “Go in peace” from my mother and father in-law. From my family nothing, just blank stares and a “you're leaving again?” No help packing, no goodbye; just dead air. It was done. Out here we would begin again. We had made good on many debts and fixed all that we could. But there was still much to do and much to learn about ourselves and others. You cannot un-live your past and it makes no sense to hide it. After all, the truth always is there and to deny your past is to not learn a thing from it. Time moves forward regardless of what mathematicians think and we could only hope that things would turn around. Well, that job wasn't as advertised and we learned a bit more about how rare integrity really is in the world. It seems we had still more to learn and the cost has been high, but we think worth it.
All the while, we continued to grow in love, learn about life and raise children that are far better than we could ever be. We have had feast and we have had genuine hardship. We have witnessed the worst of human selfishness and ignorance and also the most noble and selfless behavior that is possible. After each of these experiences we took the time to talk it over, do some soul searching, sometimes console each other and feel great gratitude when life brought us joyful times. All the time trying to understand the lesson that the experience had provided. We sought to not only benefit from our understanding, but to perhaps pass that hard earned wisdom along, so that others, especially our children, may avoid the dangers that we had encountered. That's why we say the things we say and can tell the stories we tell. Life's school has been an exceedingly tough taskmaster and we have paid attention. First, always hold fast to honor and dignity and never surrender integrity for someone else's agenda. They won't care, or stick by you when things get tough. We have seen how that failing has undermined the lives of so many around us. We have not gone down that road despite the enormous pressures of culture, and fair weather friends. Abraham Lincoln said, "adhere to your purpose and you will soon feel as well as you ever did. On the contrary if you falter, and give up, you will lose the power of keeping any resolution, and you will regret it all your life...Stick to your purpose." And for that position the price has been high, but worth it. Better to go through hell with your head held high, than to crawl through life with your spirit defiled.
Briefly, we must acknowledge that we have met some outstanding people (spirits) in our short journey (you know who you are) and they have been shining lights in the darkest points of our lives, to those who have helped us we thank you; you are forever in our thoughts and prayers. They have set the bar high and provide hope for the rest of us, who have long journeys still ahead. We know now that our past was inevitable and the future is still unwritten, and from here we continue to learn, grow and pass along that which we have found to be true and good, regardless of source. Read if you will, so that our scars may provide some small insight and hope.
Robert Muller said, “To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love. In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness.” It makes no since to be bitter when the lessons you learn can make you better.
What will you choose “bitter” or “better” today?
Tune in tomorrow to read the daily mood quote
Thank you for reading
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