Can you?

When you lose your life partner to death, can you accept the future as you thought it would be as part of that partnership it is lost as well?

Can you let go of your expectations about a future that is no longer possible since you the couple you were no longer exists in this physical world?

Can you take a piece of paper, write down what you had expected your future to be, safely burn it, and release what is no longer possible to the universe?

Can you work through your grief and anger or will you stay emotionally stuck?

Can you move forward, or will you stagnant at that point in time?

Can you let go of your fear about your future?

Can you let your future be different than you planned?

Can you let yourself envision a better future?

Can you fight for, work hard for, your new future?

Can you let go of what doesn't fit any more?

Can you be resilient?

Can you let yourself become a success?

Can you let yourself live and love again?





Copyright 2012 DayJOY, LLC.  All Rights Reserved.

In the company of women

In this amazing group

Of women meeting each other

For the first time this weekend

We found amazing strength

And surprising vulnerability.

In the quiet of the night

Listening to the fire burn,

Hearing stories and thoughts shared

Each speaking to amazing strength

And we shared compassion and support.

The backgrounds diverse

The ages both young and old

And yet if you looked closely

The young were old beyond their years,

The old young despite their years.

In true collective feminine wisdom

All were wise with lessons learned

And personal strength forged through

Challenges from this game called life

Resulting in an inner core of steel.

And along with the practice

We’ve wobbled, we’ve stretched

We’ve grown, we’ve found our physical strength

We’ve found our inner strength

And forged friendships for a lifetime.

Copyright 2012 DayJOY, LLC.  All rights reserved.

Wounded soul

I have a wounded soul

Although most days I am fine

My thoughts and fears kept in line.

Some days my wound is open

My thoughts and fears fly high

My smile and my eyes they lie.

I am frequently reminded

Self acceptance is my mine to own

Self approval is also mine to own.

I must learn to banish doubt

I must learn to manage fear

I must learn to just be here.

I am healing this wounded soul.

Slowly, surely with time I am fine.

My smile and my eyes they shine.

Copyright 2012 DayJOY, LLC.  All rights reserved.

On this trip called life

We are on the road daily

On this trip called life.

Sometimes the road is

Straight and narrow;

Sometimes the road is

Full of twists and turns.

Sometimes we are with

Family and friends.

Sometimes our family and

Friends leave too early.

Sometimes we are on

The road alone.

Sometimes there is fog

Obscuring our view.

Sometimes it is crystal

Clear where we should be.

Sometimes we're fueled up
And ready to go.

Sometimes we're running on empty
And just getting by. 

Sometimes we see the horizon

And it takes so long to get there.

Sometime we take a curve

And the view takes our breath away.

Sometime the road is slippery

And we have to slow down.

Sometimes the road is dry

And we can pick up speed.

Sometimes we make a wrong turn

And have to self correct.

Sometimes the road

Takes us to a new home.

Sometimes the road

Leads back home.

But always, always,

The road goes forward.

Copyright 2012 DayJOY, LLC.  All rights reserved.

He took the flag

I am reminded from time to time that the universe conspires to make us laugh if we remember not to take things so seriously.

I so rarely leave my house during the day but this past Monday I left and went to the Twin Cities for the day.

I returned home at 7pm only to find my 20’ flag pole and flag missing.

Yes, you read that right. 

The flag pole that my late husband, a Vietnam veteran put up in pride was missing.

It was just gone.  Totally gone.

After filing police report, making several calls, and stewing for a few hours it came to light that my lawn service accidentally hit the flag pole with the mower, bent it and couldn’t fix it so they cut it down and took it to the flag shop. 

The owner understood the sentimental value and was having a hard time telling me about it. 

Obviously they agreed to fix it.

What we all understood is that you can fix / replace the physical aspect but they can’t replace the emotional / sentimental aspect given that Bill bought the flag pole from the VFW, put the flag pole up and flew the flag proudly as a veteran.

Some things just can’t be replaced.

I was angry, frustrated, sad, and just plain tired.

So where, you ask, is the humor I mentioned at the beginning?

At 2:30am I woke up laughing and thought “Bill must have read my blog from Labor Day and decided he needed to divorce me too so he took the flag”. 

(You have to read the blog titled “Labor Day Weekend / Cleaning Stuff” and read it all the way through to understand this comment.)

As my son said, “Dad’s flag is gone.  The next flag that goes up, Mom, is yours.”

Touché, Bill, touché.

And I’m laughing.

Copyright DayJOY, LLC.  All rights reserved.