A Nostalgic Therapist

Though I rarely visit the site, I finally succumbed and joined Facebook. I joined with the intention of staying connected with child and adulthood friends. Little did I know, the site produced not only smile-inducing nostalgia, but also moments of reflection. During Thanksgiving weekend, my girlfriend, Eunice, posted "I'm most grateful that I have been given love and compassion in my life so that in turn, I can show others the same. I hope I always do regardless of my own circumstances."

For me, that resonated so loudly that I couldn't breath for that moment. Life has a twisted way of showing us how strong we are. When we are presented with extreme hardships, we are often left feeling so overwhelmed and consumed that we're left feeling paralyzed. We think...will life ever be the same or as happy? Without the intent to minimize, those feelings are temporary. But how long will "temporary" last? The answer is unclear, but we continue to carry on, sometimes without knowing it. We still wake up everyday, with or without a purpose or reason. And if our circumstances prevents us from living for ourselves, we will be once "temporary" is over. 

The holidays could be particularly challenging for some people. The season does not always invite joyfulness, but could conjure up old memories and resurface resentments. However, it does allows us permission to gain closure. Lately, it seems that everything around me reminds me to do what I need to do to maintain clarity. Whether it's sayings, pictures, or my two-year old daughter's current movie obsession, Disney and Pixar's Meet the Robinsons, I'm reminded to empathize, seek closure, and "keep moving forward," despite complex circumstances. Though it's difficult, I do that in order to stay compassionate and grateful- as a mother, wife, daughter, sister, friend and therapist. I challenge you to do the same during this sweater weather rest of the year. Enjoy what 2014 has left to offer.