Life’s Metamorphosis

Sometimes revisiting past blogs and writings reminds you how far you've come or how to get back there... I ran into this old blog in my writings and it did a little of both...

Life’s Metamorphosis

Any transition serious enough to alter your definition of self will require not just small adjustments in your way of living and thinking but a full-on metamorphosis. ~Martha Beck

As the end of the year draws near, I find myself on this day of Thanksgiving reflecting on the meaning of today and what it truly means to give thanks. Now I know historically this day may be ill perceived by some, but traditions take on new meanings as time passes and at the very essence we should at least look at today as a day to say Thank You and to show gratitude to the things that truly matter to us.

I am grateful today for many reasons. I am healthy, happy, and surrounded by amazing people that inspire me daily. I have wonderful friends who are like family to me that show me that simple acts done in good faith are what truly matter. I am the closest that I have ever been to my family and I recognize that everything that I do and all that I am is because they have brought meaning to my life beyond measure. I accept myself, flaws and all, and I know that they don’t make me any less valuable. I know now that the fact that I know what my own flaws are what give me direction and a better sense of self. I thank my friends who were kind enough to point those perceived flaws out as unintentional as they may have made it seem but I hope that they recognize that perhaps what they may see as a flaw I see as one of my biggest strengths.

The past few weeks have brought many areas of transitions and acceptance. I accept the fact that I may not be good enough in the eyes of some people but I may be the one that others envy when seen through different eyes. I can’t change the way people feel but I can change the way I react to them and I can try to put myself in their shoes to understand where they may be coming from.

I find myself writing a new chapter in this book that is my life. In it, I am creating my own belief system built on the principles of love, compassion and forgiveness.

I know that sometimes those that you consider closest to your heart may say something or demean you without thinking. To those friends and loved ones I say thank you because I recognize now that it was not your words that offended me but rather my own perception of myself. It was the next thing that I needed to work on. I accept the fact that you may see my ‘vulnerability’ or ‘niceness’ as a weakness, but I also hope that you know that because I accept you as you are you will accept me as I am too.

I also recognize that at times I may be the one whose words may be taken as hurtful and critical. To those friends I apologize and please know that I would never intentionally hurt or offend another person simply because I know what it feels like to be there.

So on this day of Thanksgiving I say thank you to those that I am surrounded by on a daily basis. I say thank you to those that have moved on for simply having been in my life. I say thank you to my unconventional family who finds my ways a bit different from their own but who recognize that in following my heart I am staying true to myself.

This comes to you from the girl who has a passion for life, wears her heart on her sleeve, let’s her emotions get the best of her, likes to look for the best in everyone she meets and will always be there to give a helping hand. To some, this girl may seem weak, vulnerable, gullible or fragile. As for me, I see that having a passion for life drives me; wearing my heart on my sleeve shows compassion and love for the people that surround me; letting my emotions get the best of me shows my sensitivity for the feelings of others; looking for the good in people is my way of accepting them just as they are and my willingness to give a helping hand shows my humanitarian spirit. Those are things that matter to me and that I am grateful for.

mm 11/23/2006