This week I turned 55 and I am always grateful to start a new birthday year!
I decided last year for my birthday this year I would get a new car.I know that sounds like something to be very excited about …but for meit is something I have been putting offliterallyfor years.
It wasn't until last week it hit me whywhen I realized my car was the last tangible to myyears as a full time Motherand I still love how very familiar and safe my car feels to me.
When I look at my carI don't see the fading paintlights so old they have gone opaque andbrake lights that have turned pink.
When I see the outsidethe paint job is a veritable family scrapbookas my kids not only grew up in the carbut learned to drive in it as well.There are scratches that came from surf boardsandwhen rules were brokenand off roading was done by boys.Something at the time seemed so serious and now withyears behind it's more of a chuckleand remember when.
Inside my car I remember family tripswith everybody cozy and safely togetheroff on new adventures ...
but luckily I can also rememberincessant drivingthe years before my three could drive.One year I literally spent six hours a daydriving my children to where they needed to be.and that's whywe finally bought a third car.I am so happy I can remember enough of the pastnot to over romanticize it.There was an awful lot of work involved!Somedays I am particularly grateful to be at this juncture of my road!
I could have down sized my car yearsagobut I just wasn't ready.But now when I look back and seethe empty rows of seatsI know it's time.
Just like when my oldest son moved outand the alarm clock he left behindstill went off every morningandevery morning I went to shut offthe haunting reminder of his departureI gave myself time.Time to make peace in my heart with the transition.Until one dayI knew I was OKto move onand I did.
This time too,I have given myself time.
I have acknowledged the passage of a time in my lifeandby doing so have realized there are so many times in life when we must learn to transition with grace and courage.For me reflecting the past witha grateful heartmakes the moving forwardmore grounded.
So this week I am gratefulfor the pastand excited with the continual moving alongto my new future.
I recognize nowtransitions and changeare something of a challenge for me.I remember it was hard for me to go from a career women with my own businessto a full time mother of 3 under 4But I didand I did it well.
So I realize I may be slower to embrace changebut I have no doubt when I doI can always do it well ...it might just take me a little longer.
So this post is a loving ode to my old carYou served us so very well the past twelve yearskeeping us safeand getting us where we needed to go in lifewith fun adventures along the way.For that I am so very grateful!
As always my friends
I wish you love and joyas you style your life
