3.29.26

3.29.26

This morning I’m listening to the chaotic sounds of my children teasing each other. My tiny dogs barking at everything and nothing. And the feeling of my heart being filled with joy and gratitude. I’m outside on my patio that I’ve made into a retreat, looking out at the vastness of the sky, drinking a nice warm cup of Yogi tea—Positive Energy—one of my favorites. I’m completely content and ready for what the day has ahead. I feel this way because of the connectivity I have with the people who remind me of my core values: loyalty, integrity, honesty, and respect. My family—my circle. I’m anchored again.

My circle is small. If you are in that circle, you might hear some of my blog topics before they are written. Before they are shared with an audience. I’ve always considered myself an open book, and I’m clearly not afraid to share my experiences with anyone, but I only share with those who are willing to listen and actually care.

I imagine the people who read my blog care about how my experiences might relate to their own. I hope that I may be helping someone realize that they aren’t alone in their own feelings, or that they have a different point of view to consider when evaluating their own trials, which is why I invest in relationships that have depth and can offer reciprocity in the values that ground me.

When I invite you into my circle, you get my loyalty—my whole heart and support. I make space for you, even if I only have a small corner to give. You get my complete honesty because I respect and care for you enough to give it. I pride myself on my commitment to integrity. I don’t like lying because it eats at my insides, and I don’t like abandoning my promises. I want to be able to look you in the eye and say that I was honest with you, even if you didn’t know it. I respect any boundaries you’ve set and will even suggest putting some in place, because you should respect yourself as much as I do you.

Before I hitched myself to a man, I had these values embedded within me—even if I couldn’t put them into words.

The rekindled connectivity encouraged me to retether myself to that anchor, and I’ve been able to spread my wings again. I am embracing the many stages of evolution. I am rediscovering who I am and becoming the person I’ve always wanted to be. I feel like I can be bold and free. I feel love again. I feel gratitude for all the seasons and chaotic moments. I just feel…everything.

I’m able to reengage in the things I love—writing, reading. I’ve also resurrected my creativity. I even found a love for puzzles. I’ve come to love the apartment lifestyle. I take advantage of the free gym, pool, the view from my patio, and the lack of responsibilities that come with owning a home. I don’t even have to worry about changing my own light bulbs.

I’m saying all of this because the joy in my heart is pronounced, and I don’t have much to offer today—only gratitude. No long story about what my life used to look like. No recollection of a painful memory. No comparison to the past. Just light. Hopefully an uplifting respite, because sometimes that is enough. Gratitude is enough. It fosters what we crave the most: love, peace, and the calm that comes with it.

I hope you find your circle that uplifts you and reminds you of your core values—your anchor. I hope you have a family—one you are born into or one that you created—that can give you the freedom to explore your own ideas, and offer you safety in contentment, and, by extension, the opportunity to fly with joy in your heart. To heal after hurt.