Letting Go and Staying Strong…

When I was a little girl I never could imagine a life without my parents, let alone the day when I would have to say goodbye to them.  Well recently I had to say goodbye to both of my parents as I lost them on the same day.  I have had the difficult task of going through all of their personal belongings so my family can sell their home.  Going through their stuff has been very bittersweet and brought up a lot of fond memories.  I discovered old photographs which brought up so many great childhood flashbacks like going on vacations and camping.  I absolutely loved camping as a child, it was always such an adventure.  I would go on long hikes to explore and play hide and seek with my cousins.  We made forts and pretended that we were there all alone with no grown ups to watch over us.  Making food from berries and cooking with pine needles.  Riding motorcycles and swimming in the lake.  We truly had a blast!

Some of my favorite moments were at Kings Canyon National Park and Yosemite.  I will never forget the time a huge bear came up to my sister while we were sitting around the camp fire.  She literally jumped over the fire and yelled louder than anyone I have ever heard!  The good news is she was much quicker than the bear and she scared him off before my father could even get over to her!  I will always remember those days of happiness and smile!

Although letting go and purging my parents belongings has been very difficult, it has somehow given me the strength to know that if I can do it, I can do just about anything.  I was given this amazing gift along the way, the gift of inner strength.  I am not sure exactly when it happened, while spending countless hours sifting through my mom’s card collection or dad’s mounds of endless paperwork.  I have truly come to realize that I can make it here without them even though it is hard and I miss them.  I have also discovered this amazing sense of accomplishment while finding inner strength which I didn’t realize existed.

There are times in life when we are challenged and have to face difficult situations which will shake us to the core, yet somehow we always manage to get through it.  This is one of those times.  I challenge you to look at your own life and think about what might be holding you back or what you may need to let go of.  Seek to discover that sense of inner strength that you have inside of you!