Brave enough: finding strength to admit our brokenness

 

From the start, my purpose for writing “A nasty word called addiction…” centered on a message of hope and redemption, as well as a way to mark a milestone in my own journey of healing. It’s no secret that many of us suffer in silence from a laundry list of afflictions. Yet, the older I get, the more I feel a kinship with those who hide behind the fake smiles, the false bravado. Because I, too, share the DNA of brokenness. Yet, as I navigate—aka stumble, skip or sidle (depending on the day)—this season of Club 50, I often entertain second thoughts about broaching various “taboo” topics in conversation or my writing. However, if we’re unwilling to allow ourselves the discomfort of vulnerability, then we miss an opportunity to engage in deeper connection with humanity, and ourselves. Transparency, I believe, serves as a catalyst to healing and a collective oneness. And affords us strength when we’re brave enough to admit our brokenness.

Are you brave enough?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

Asking the big question: what’s next?

 

Pivotal moments. We all experience those times in our lives where we can usually pinpoint at least one life-altering decision, milestone or epiphany. I’ve written a lot about a big one for me: my daughter had just started 10th grade and, when I realized she’d graduate in two years, I knew I didn’t want to do what I was doing for the rest of my life. Twenty-four months later I earned my B.A., just a day before this same child received her diploma. Fast forward a half dozen years: my daughter turns 24 today. I work in an industry I’m passionate about (most of the time) but, once again, I can’t say this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Maybe it’s because hitting the half-century mark this past December signaled another turning point—an ah-ha moment of sorts. We aren’t getting out of this thing alive, and it isn’t slowing down. So what’s next?

What is a pivotal moment in your life?

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.