“Courage is the only pathway to the connection we crave most. Risk is the essential throughway.” Wow! These words matter to me. Not just about conception (one living child after numerous artificial attempts) but about becoming sober. Today I celebrate 17 1/2 months without alcohol. And 28 1/2 years with my only child, a daughter. Without courage neither would be part of my life. And what can I add about risk? Each one has been a struggle from age 0 to 28 1/2 years from 0 to 17 1/2 months. Without the struggle it seems there is no courage necessary. Without courage no risk taken. I can’t imagine my life without either of these. My daughter or my sobriety. Struggle has led to courage. There are no easy answers but there is room for growth and development as a mother and a sober citizen - each has its own challenges but there is beauty in each and I can’t imagine a life without all of these. I am thankful.
Wow this made me cry. It is so so powerful. I am buying the book now. It reminded me of all the twists and turns it took to get my son. The failed attempts to get pregnant, IVF, the pregnancies of my younger years I choose not to keep. The ultimate path of adoption, which is no easy feat and takes blind courage and tenacity The day I went down to Guatemala on my own (my husband then couldn’t bear to hold the baby to only hand him back) when he was 5months old, only to wait another agonizing 4 months before he was in our arms for good. The blind faith of courage propelled me forward. He is now 19 and in college is and always has been the greatest love of my life. The courage to keep trying to be sober. Day 16 today. I will never give up. The move from all I knew this year from CA to WA, selling and buying a house in a tough market. The courage to forge ahead into the unknown, it nearly broke me. But nearly is not done, nearly means you get up, you dust yourself off and you have the courage to get up and put yourself back in the ring of life. I have chosen to do that. Writting this here today makes me feel proud. 16 days at age 61. I will never ever give up on this game of life. Thank you Laura and all that write here. 🫶🙏🦋
This post is absolutely the spiritual gift I needed right now. My 31-year-old daughter has decided to marry a young man, and their relationship has been slightly tumultuous to this point. Long story. I have been writhing around on the floor sick to my stomach thinking I should say something to her. My husband is so wise, he basically told me these exact words from this reading the other day. He said we don’t know what will happen, but they love each other. Let’s give them a chance. Gulp. He’s right.
Going through a painful and heartbreaking separation. These words resonate so much. I'm quick to admonish myself for 'the wasted time' and giving everything to our dream. We sold our home and moved to Colombia and it didn't work out. I'm starting to hear the whispers in myself that this was just a chapter and not the whole story. That I can still create the life I long for. I'm back in Colombia for my second solo trip. It's not the country of my birth and there are memories of him and us everywhere. But my soul always feels happy and at home here. So I'm leaning into that.
Resonating in every way I need too…the pregnancy of my son after the loss of my second daughter at 4m old was “courageous” in a way I didn’t know until this moment. I say often, I heard you say it but I wasn’t ready to listen. Today I hear this. Here’s to Taking Heart.
“Courage is the only pathway to the connection we crave most. Risk is the essential throughway.” Wow! These words matter to me. Not just about conception (one living child after numerous artificial attempts) but about becoming sober. Today I celebrate 17 1/2 months without alcohol. And 28 1/2 years with my only child, a daughter. Without courage neither would be part of my life. And what can I add about risk? Each one has been a struggle from age 0 to 28 1/2 years from 0 to 17 1/2 months. Without the struggle it seems there is no courage necessary. Without courage no risk taken. I can’t imagine my life without either of these. My daughter or my sobriety. Struggle has led to courage. There are no easy answers but there is room for growth and development as a mother and a sober citizen - each has its own challenges but there is beauty in each and I can’t imagine a life without all of these. I am thankful.
Wow this made me cry. It is so so powerful. I am buying the book now. It reminded me of all the twists and turns it took to get my son. The failed attempts to get pregnant, IVF, the pregnancies of my younger years I choose not to keep. The ultimate path of adoption, which is no easy feat and takes blind courage and tenacity The day I went down to Guatemala on my own (my husband then couldn’t bear to hold the baby to only hand him back) when he was 5months old, only to wait another agonizing 4 months before he was in our arms for good. The blind faith of courage propelled me forward. He is now 19 and in college is and always has been the greatest love of my life. The courage to keep trying to be sober. Day 16 today. I will never give up. The move from all I knew this year from CA to WA, selling and buying a house in a tough market. The courage to forge ahead into the unknown, it nearly broke me. But nearly is not done, nearly means you get up, you dust yourself off and you have the courage to get up and put yourself back in the ring of life. I have chosen to do that. Writting this here today makes me feel proud. 16 days at age 61. I will never ever give up on this game of life. Thank you Laura and all that write here. 🫶🙏🦋
When she writes, “I was not a fool for wanting something beautiful, for hoping and trying for life.” Wow, and yes. ✨
This post is absolutely the spiritual gift I needed right now. My 31-year-old daughter has decided to marry a young man, and their relationship has been slightly tumultuous to this point. Long story. I have been writhing around on the floor sick to my stomach thinking I should say something to her. My husband is so wise, he basically told me these exact words from this reading the other day. He said we don’t know what will happen, but they love each other. Let’s give them a chance. Gulp. He’s right.
Yes yes yes
Going through a painful and heartbreaking separation. These words resonate so much. I'm quick to admonish myself for 'the wasted time' and giving everything to our dream. We sold our home and moved to Colombia and it didn't work out. I'm starting to hear the whispers in myself that this was just a chapter and not the whole story. That I can still create the life I long for. I'm back in Colombia for my second solo trip. It's not the country of my birth and there are memories of him and us everywhere. But my soul always feels happy and at home here. So I'm leaning into that.
Tears, tears, tears. I needed this and I needed the tears. Such a beautiful post. I will be rereading this daily.
LOVE this on so many levels Thankyou for your words!
Resonating in every way I need too…the pregnancy of my son after the loss of my second daughter at 4m old was “courageous” in a way I didn’t know until this moment. I say often, I heard you say it but I wasn’t ready to listen. Today I hear this. Here’s to Taking Heart.