Happy Birthday to you Rachel!!! 🎂🎉💐 My older brother’s birthday was yesterday, and i had my birthday on 4th Jan ☺️
My experience about birthday might be a bit unusual, and not many people might be able to understand … As i grow older, i honestly feel more and more awkward waiting to spend the day with my family… so from last year, i took the initiative to plan how i want to spend my yet another birthday, away from my family, and focusing on myself… the first time i did it, there was a lot of unspoken tension in my family and internal battle within myself, it almost felt like a condemned birthday with me keep gently and creatively cheering up myself. This year was better, with less paying attention to what my family might think, and feeling grateful for the wonderful encounters and experiences that actually took place because of my unusual and brave decision. If i could offer one encouragement to anyone like myself, i would like to say “you are enough, and you are so worthy to spend your birthday the way you really want it” 🤝❤️
"If i could offer one encouragement to anyone like myself, i would like to say “you are enough, and you are so worthy to spend your birthday the way you really want it” 🤝❤️"
YES! YES! YES!!! Thank you, dear Xin! And happy birthday month to you!
Happy birthday Rachel!! May your year be filled with love, joy, health and everything that makes you happy. Your words about your lonely birthday really touched me. We always travel to see family for the Christmas holiday so December 8, my birthday, is never celebrated much, especially not with the people I want to be with, my sisters. Well in November, I decided for once I wanted to celebrate jn a big way. On a whim, I booked a weekend cruise for my family: my husband and 2 daughters. When I mentioned it to my sister in California, she asked if it would be ok if she and her husband came. I was so happy. The previous summer, they had been in a horrific motorcycle accident and had both had long roads to recovery. This would be their first vacation since. I was honored that they wanted to spend it with me. This sister had moved to California when I was 10 and I still, at 44, miss seeing her daily in my life. Once my other sister heard, she booked her and husband too. And that is how I got to celebrate my 44th birthday on a cruise with my favorite people. We laughed about things only sisters can and our love was so strong. It was a birthday I will never forget!
Maria, I am just in awe of the power of this story. If anyone is on the fence about taking their celebrations into their own hands, your story will inspire them! The fact that you decided you were worthy of celebration and made a plan.... AND THEN your beloved sisters asked to join in the plan and it became this memorable, once in a lifetime trip is just AMAZING. I am crying at the beauty of it all. THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this with us.
Tomorrow is the first birthday I will celebrate without my mom who was my best friend. The pain of losing her a little over 3 weeks ago is excruciating, and I know tomorrow will be so hard even though I’ll have two loving people with me. Thank you for letting me say this here where it feels okay to share real feelings.
Dear Rachel, I am so sorry for the loss of your precious mom. I am so sorry that tomorrow you will experience your first birthday on this earth without her. I am so sorry you are hurting. Dear one, I commend you for allowing yourself to feel what you feel in this moment... for allowing us to come beside you in your grief. I have no words that can bring comfort, but I can tell you that you are not alone. I can tell you that you are cared for here and that tomorrow, many of us will be holding you in our hearts. You are seen. You are loved.
Sending love and sympathy, and warm birthday wishes. My mom passed 19 days before my birthday two years ago. Even as a grown adult with my own children it was a very heavy and sad day. It's still rough. Sending you a virtual and psychic hug.
Oh Rachel, I am so sorry for your loss. I know the feeling of having your mom be a best friend. I pray that you feel her presence tomorrow on your special day.
My heart wrapped around you today for being so open about your story. My heart wrapped around you tomorrow as you experience something you have never experienced before. 💝
Happy Birthday Rachel!! I hope all the joy, love and inspiration you have brought to others comes back to you tenfold today!
One of my most memorable birthdays happened when I turned 55. My little girl self led me to Wrigley Field in Chicago to see my beloved Chicago Cubs play. It was their magical World Series winning season and they were playing on my actual birthday (September 4) which landed on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend making it possible for me to fly in from NH for the long weekend. I had invited my sister to fly in from Arizona and meet me in Chicago for the game. Seeing the game and being with my sister was special enough, but I decided to create a little more magic in honor of my special day in one of my all time favorite places. I went to the bank and got 55 $1 bills and made a plan to drop the bills from the upper deck during the 7th inning stretch! I actually did it! And what was most magical was that my sister and niece were able to watch the whole thing play out from their seats (and get some great photos!)..the dollar bills "rained down" and several of them actually fell right over a young boy who was about the same age as I was when I first fell in love with Wrigley Field. I was able to remain anonymous and it still makes me smile to think about how excited this boy was (he was showing everyone in his section the dollars while also looking up toward the sky) and how he will likely someday tell his kids and grandkids about the day dollar bills fell out of the sky at a Cubs game!
This made me cry happy tears. I want to do this at the next Braves game I go to. THANK YOU for your beautiful heart and for sharing this amazing memory with us.
Oh my gosh Claudia! Your story of dropping the 55 $1 bills down from the upper deck is the coolest thing ever!! I got goosebumps reading that!!! And tears welling up in my eyes! How perfect that a sweet little boy was the recipient of your celebration 🎉 ⚾️🧢 I can’t wait to tell my boys and husband your story. We are huge sports fans! Thanks for sharing that!!!
First, I feel like the luckiest person because you mentioned my comment in your post ON your actual birthday!
HaPpY BiRtHdAy RaChEl !! 🎈🎉🥳🎉🎈
(This is me jumping up and down!)
Amy’s photos of you are SO Awesome! That first one is so similar to the joy seen in your face wearing your yellow coat in your treehouse 💛💛
Being able to connect with you and keep supporting the work that you have done on yourself and shared with all of us so that we could blossom into our best selves is such a gift. Every retreat, I consider long and hard and I know that someday I will be able to say yes and go. I just know that someday I will get to meet you in person to thank you with a great big hug.
I will light a candle for you today Rachel, make a wish on it, and eventually blow it out, but I’ll be wishing that you feel all of the love reflected back to you for your birthday.
P.s. It was SO sweet to see your mom on the zoom meeting. She deserves a thank you too for giving us you and for saving all of those cute pictures of you. 💛🍰💛🕯️💛
I passed along your sweet words to my mom. I could hear her smile over the phone. Thank you for this beautiful acknowledgement for my birthday! You are so appreciated.
Happy Birthday Rachel!! I love imagining the day that you were born and all the angels gathered around you marveling at your magnificent light. Your light radiates out and blesses not only my life, but the lives of so many people. May you delight in a wonderful birthday. May your year be blessed with love, laughter and adventures that make your heart sing.
My birthday is on December 2. My husband's is on December 22. I am usually decorating the house for Christmas on my birthday. I don't like to stop to get dressed for a dinner out so we usually order food and bring it to the house. And my husband's lands in the most hectic part of the holiday season. This year a good friend and her husband invited us out for dinner to celebrate my birthday.Because of a kitchen remodel, I was not able to decorate yet. So I was thrilled to be going out with our friends. My daughter asked for us to meet up with her afterwards for dessert. I never turn down an offer for dessert! My daughter met us outside of the restaurant. She said she had a booth reserved for us. When we got to the booth our son was sitting there. He flew out from SC to surprise me for my birthday. My mama heart was exploding with joy! I would have to say this was one of my best birthday's ever!
Awww...Karri, It truly was a great surprise. We live in CA. Our son is a Battalion Chief at a Fire Station in SC. With his schedule, we don't get a chance to see him that often. So for him to fly in for 24 hours made me so very happy.❤️
Oh happy birthday my sweet friend!!! I'm so thankful you tuned in to your inner child. Little Rachel took your hand and is guiding you and in turn, all of us. Aren't we the lucky ones! Oh happy happy birthday. I'm very very glad we are here. ((Hugs))
Namaste and Happy Birthday. For my birthday I gave myself permission to give a daughter money to bring her whole family to visit, a son money to get a much needed car, and another son money to catch up on bills. My best birthday present was in the joy of giving to others.
Happy, Happy Birthday to you dear Rachel! The world blessed us with an amazing gift on January 24th. (24 is my lucky number, so love that it is your birthday number!) I hope your smile lights up every space you enter so others can see and feel your light. I am so blessed to have found your words, your journey, and your honesty! You and everyone who has commented has inspired me to listen closely over the next month before my birthday for what my heart really desires for that day!
One of the greatest gift given to me on this life journey that took it's turn 2 years ago in a way I never saw, was the amazing people I have become connected to. Most of them are virtual and around the world, but it is such a blessing to know that you are never alone and I was meant to go on this journey so that I could become connected with the amazing people who inspire and motivate me every day. My next phase is to find my people close to home. I know I will because if I found them virtually, I will find them close.
Cory, I still struggle with that - I have lots of local "friends" that I only see online because I just don't make or take the time to pursue actually meeting up in person. I need to work on that!
It is so hard! I have a group of 5 good friends who we used to get together weekly, then kids came. So it is not as often. But I know there is also more of a community out there for me to connect to as well, I will find them.
You are such a radiant soul, Cory. You WILL find your people... just keep doing you. How lucky are those who come into your light. Will you keep us posted? I love this part: "My next phase is to find my people close to home. I know I will because if I found them virtually, I will find them close."
Happiest of birthdays to you Rachel. Thank you for sharing your worst birthday story. My husband and I usually are traveling on our birthdays and are usually with friends. My favorite birthdays were when my boys were young and made me sweet cards and notes. I still treasure them. Have a wonderful day
Thank you for sharing your birthday with us. Happy birthday! I’m so glad you’ve discovered the love of volunteering with the shelter dogs. Last year, after retiring from a stressful job, I started finding myself again. Figuring out how I wanted to spend my time and who I wanted to share my time with. I missed my work friends and started walking dogs at our local shelter. It’s therapeutic for both me and each dog I walk. I always try to sit with them, brush some if they need it or just pet them and tell them don’t worry, you’re going to get adopted soon. I can imagine you are giving encouragement to each dog you walk, even if it’s just by your presence.
Happy happy birthday to you Rachel! My wish for you is that you have a wonderful day that is filled with light and love from all who love you. It is so important to celebrate you and be remembered even if its in the smallest of ways and I believe in celebrating ourselves for the whole year. No one else will do that for us, so we must do that for ourselves. You are loved.
Love this..." I believe in celebrating ourselves for the whole year, because no one else will, so we must do it for ourselves." Man that is beautiful and so true!!! What ways do you celebrate yourself each day?
Happiest of birthdays to you Rachel. You continue to guide me through this journey of life. I appreciate all that you say and the spaces you have created... thanks for being authentic and honest, it means so much and creates this space that you feel welcomed and known. I hope you have an amazing birthday and you are truly treasured today, as you should be every other day...
I love your story. I don’t have a birthday story, but your post did get me thinking about connection and how to find it. I often find myself feeling disconnected and/or lonely even when surrounded by people at an event. I feel awkward striking up conversations with people I don’t know. I feel envious of people who are in groups.
It’s odd because on one hand I have some amazing support systems. And on the other I feel alone and confused. It’s hard to be honest about how I am feeling, even with those I consider close friends. It often feels like I should just be grateful to have them - and I am - and that should be enough. But sometimes, it’s not.
There’s a lot going on in my world right now. Teenagers pulling away, mom slipping further into dementia, dad aging and changing. Difficult things in my marriage. Sometimes it seems like I’m tied to all these people but so very alone at the same time.
Okay - I think I just used this comment space to write an important journal entry. Sharing it feels very vulnerable - and I need to be more vulnerable...so here goes. Thanks for listening.
I can't tell you how deeply I appreciate your willingness to be vulnerable, Elizabeth. I bet lots of people read your words and nodded; I bet lots of people read your words and felt less alone. And I love how you recognized a journal entry was begun here by opening your heart. I hope you continue the entry and perhaps brings you more clarity during a very confusing, hard time. Please know I am here reaching my hand back. Love you, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, thanks for your amazing honesty. I saw myself in some of your reflections so thank you for sharing. I think it’s not so uncommon to feel unseen or alone even when we’re among others, even family.
Elizabeth I too feel lonely. I’ve retired as has my husband. I no longer have a car as the one I had was totaled. It’s winter so everyone is hibernating these days. Looking forward to a trip down to Georgia and Florida to visit good friends. Sending love and a huge hug. I’m going to check into therapy this next week as I think it might help me get clarity.
Happy birthday Rachel! You share the same birthday as our youngest. 🎂💕
As adults we long for connection but often are too busy or shy to put ourselves out there. I know that has been the case for me.
I just love how you are facilitating ways for like-minded people to come together in a safe and loving way.
Last year I made a conscious effort to prioritise making new friends and it opened up so many doors! I’m even connecting more meaningfully with old friends. It’s been such a blast and something I didn’t even know I needed. ✨
Happy Birthday to you Rachel!!! 🎂🎉💐 My older brother’s birthday was yesterday, and i had my birthday on 4th Jan ☺️
My experience about birthday might be a bit unusual, and not many people might be able to understand … As i grow older, i honestly feel more and more awkward waiting to spend the day with my family… so from last year, i took the initiative to plan how i want to spend my yet another birthday, away from my family, and focusing on myself… the first time i did it, there was a lot of unspoken tension in my family and internal battle within myself, it almost felt like a condemned birthday with me keep gently and creatively cheering up myself. This year was better, with less paying attention to what my family might think, and feeling grateful for the wonderful encounters and experiences that actually took place because of my unusual and brave decision. If i could offer one encouragement to anyone like myself, i would like to say “you are enough, and you are so worthy to spend your birthday the way you really want it” 🤝❤️
I think however you wish to spend your special day should be honored. Good for you for taking the time for yourself!
Thank you for saying this, i feel as if you are standing here with me 🤝
This is beautiful!!!
Thank you for taking the time to tell me this! ❤️
"If i could offer one encouragement to anyone like myself, i would like to say “you are enough, and you are so worthy to spend your birthday the way you really want it” 🤝❤️"
YES! YES! YES!!! Thank you, dear Xin! And happy birthday month to you!
Happy birthday Rachel!! May your year be filled with love, joy, health and everything that makes you happy. Your words about your lonely birthday really touched me. We always travel to see family for the Christmas holiday so December 8, my birthday, is never celebrated much, especially not with the people I want to be with, my sisters. Well in November, I decided for once I wanted to celebrate jn a big way. On a whim, I booked a weekend cruise for my family: my husband and 2 daughters. When I mentioned it to my sister in California, she asked if it would be ok if she and her husband came. I was so happy. The previous summer, they had been in a horrific motorcycle accident and had both had long roads to recovery. This would be their first vacation since. I was honored that they wanted to spend it with me. This sister had moved to California when I was 10 and I still, at 44, miss seeing her daily in my life. Once my other sister heard, she booked her and husband too. And that is how I got to celebrate my 44th birthday on a cruise with my favorite people. We laughed about things only sisters can and our love was so strong. It was a birthday I will never forget!
Maria, I am just in awe of the power of this story. If anyone is on the fence about taking their celebrations into their own hands, your story will inspire them! The fact that you decided you were worthy of celebration and made a plan.... AND THEN your beloved sisters asked to join in the plan and it became this memorable, once in a lifetime trip is just AMAZING. I am crying at the beauty of it all. THANK YOU SO MUCH for sharing this with us.
Thank you so much Rachel. We must always remember we are the authors of our own story ♥️
How fun! And boo for December birthdays, lol! Its such a busy season and month, good for you for taking the time to celebrate!
Tomorrow is the first birthday I will celebrate without my mom who was my best friend. The pain of losing her a little over 3 weeks ago is excruciating, and I know tomorrow will be so hard even though I’ll have two loving people with me. Thank you for letting me say this here where it feels okay to share real feelings.
Dear Rachel, I am so sorry for the loss of your precious mom. I am so sorry that tomorrow you will experience your first birthday on this earth without her. I am so sorry you are hurting. Dear one, I commend you for allowing yourself to feel what you feel in this moment... for allowing us to come beside you in your grief. I have no words that can bring comfort, but I can tell you that you are not alone. I can tell you that you are cared for here and that tomorrow, many of us will be holding you in our hearts. You are seen. You are loved.
Sending love and sympathy, and warm birthday wishes. My mom passed 19 days before my birthday two years ago. Even as a grown adult with my own children it was a very heavy and sad day. It's still rough. Sending you a virtual and psychic hug.
O no, this is hard. Glad you are here for a group hug 🥰
Thought of you this morning as I awoke! Happy Birthday!
I love your heart.
Sending you so much love on your birthday. I hope you feel your mom is with you.
Oh Rachel, I am so sorry for your loss. I know the feeling of having your mom be a best friend. I pray that you feel her presence tomorrow on your special day.
My heart wrapped around you today for being so open about your story. My heart wrapped around you tomorrow as you experience something you have never experienced before. 💝
Happy Birthday Rachel!! I hope all the joy, love and inspiration you have brought to others comes back to you tenfold today!
One of my most memorable birthdays happened when I turned 55. My little girl self led me to Wrigley Field in Chicago to see my beloved Chicago Cubs play. It was their magical World Series winning season and they were playing on my actual birthday (September 4) which landed on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend making it possible for me to fly in from NH for the long weekend. I had invited my sister to fly in from Arizona and meet me in Chicago for the game. Seeing the game and being with my sister was special enough, but I decided to create a little more magic in honor of my special day in one of my all time favorite places. I went to the bank and got 55 $1 bills and made a plan to drop the bills from the upper deck during the 7th inning stretch! I actually did it! And what was most magical was that my sister and niece were able to watch the whole thing play out from their seats (and get some great photos!)..the dollar bills "rained down" and several of them actually fell right over a young boy who was about the same age as I was when I first fell in love with Wrigley Field. I was able to remain anonymous and it still makes me smile to think about how excited this boy was (he was showing everyone in his section the dollars while also looking up toward the sky) and how he will likely someday tell his kids and grandkids about the day dollar bills fell out of the sky at a Cubs game!
This made me cry happy tears. I want to do this at the next Braves game I go to. THANK YOU for your beautiful heart and for sharing this amazing memory with us.
How fun is that! I am sure that little boy will remember that day forever! What a special way to mark your birthday!
Thank you Karri!
Oh my gosh Claudia! Your story of dropping the 55 $1 bills down from the upper deck is the coolest thing ever!! I got goosebumps reading that!!! And tears welling up in my eyes! How perfect that a sweet little boy was the recipient of your celebration 🎉 ⚾️🧢 I can’t wait to tell my boys and husband your story. We are huge sports fans! Thanks for sharing that!!!
Thank you Donna! I loved having a reason to share this story and so appreciate your enthusiastic response!
First, I feel like the luckiest person because you mentioned my comment in your post ON your actual birthday!
HaPpY BiRtHdAy RaChEl !! 🎈🎉🥳🎉🎈
(This is me jumping up and down!)
Amy’s photos of you are SO Awesome! That first one is so similar to the joy seen in your face wearing your yellow coat in your treehouse 💛💛
Being able to connect with you and keep supporting the work that you have done on yourself and shared with all of us so that we could blossom into our best selves is such a gift. Every retreat, I consider long and hard and I know that someday I will be able to say yes and go. I just know that someday I will get to meet you in person to thank you with a great big hug.
I will light a candle for you today Rachel, make a wish on it, and eventually blow it out, but I’ll be wishing that you feel all of the love reflected back to you for your birthday.
P.s. It was SO sweet to see your mom on the zoom meeting. She deserves a thank you too for giving us you and for saving all of those cute pictures of you. 💛🍰💛🕯️💛
I passed along your sweet words to my mom. I could hear her smile over the phone. Thank you for this beautiful acknowledgement for my birthday! You are so appreciated.
I love your shout out to Rachel's mom! So true!!!
Happy Birthday Rachel!! I love imagining the day that you were born and all the angels gathered around you marveling at your magnificent light. Your light radiates out and blesses not only my life, but the lives of so many people. May you delight in a wonderful birthday. May your year be blessed with love, laughter and adventures that make your heart sing.
My birthday is on December 2. My husband's is on December 22. I am usually decorating the house for Christmas on my birthday. I don't like to stop to get dressed for a dinner out so we usually order food and bring it to the house. And my husband's lands in the most hectic part of the holiday season. This year a good friend and her husband invited us out for dinner to celebrate my birthday.Because of a kitchen remodel, I was not able to decorate yet. So I was thrilled to be going out with our friends. My daughter asked for us to meet up with her afterwards for dessert. I never turn down an offer for dessert! My daughter met us outside of the restaurant. She said she had a booth reserved for us. When we got to the booth our son was sitting there. He flew out from SC to surprise me for my birthday. My mama heart was exploding with joy! I would have to say this was one of my best birthday's ever!
Linda, this is just the best. Made me cry tears of joy.
What a great surprise!!
Awww...Karri, It truly was a great surprise. We live in CA. Our son is a Battalion Chief at a Fire Station in SC. With his schedule, we don't get a chance to see him that often. So for him to fly in for 24 hours made me so very happy.❤️
Oh happy birthday my sweet friend!!! I'm so thankful you tuned in to your inner child. Little Rachel took your hand and is guiding you and in turn, all of us. Aren't we the lucky ones! Oh happy happy birthday. I'm very very glad we are here. ((Hugs))
Yes! We are the lucky ones!!!
You are a continuous gift in my life.
Happy birthday to the one and only Rachel Stafford- always showing love to others and trying to make this world a better place! Love you, Julia
Love you, sweet Julia ❤️
Namaste and Happy Birthday. For my birthday I gave myself permission to give a daughter money to bring her whole family to visit, a son money to get a much needed car, and another son money to catch up on bills. My best birthday present was in the joy of giving to others.
This is so special. I can relate.
Happy, Happy Birthday to you dear Rachel! The world blessed us with an amazing gift on January 24th. (24 is my lucky number, so love that it is your birthday number!) I hope your smile lights up every space you enter so others can see and feel your light. I am so blessed to have found your words, your journey, and your honesty! You and everyone who has commented has inspired me to listen closely over the next month before my birthday for what my heart really desires for that day!
One of the greatest gift given to me on this life journey that took it's turn 2 years ago in a way I never saw, was the amazing people I have become connected to. Most of them are virtual and around the world, but it is such a blessing to know that you are never alone and I was meant to go on this journey so that I could become connected with the amazing people who inspire and motivate me every day. My next phase is to find my people close to home. I know I will because if I found them virtually, I will find them close.
Cory, I still struggle with that - I have lots of local "friends" that I only see online because I just don't make or take the time to pursue actually meeting up in person. I need to work on that!
It is so hard! I have a group of 5 good friends who we used to get together weekly, then kids came. So it is not as often. But I know there is also more of a community out there for me to connect to as well, I will find them.
You are such a radiant soul, Cory. You WILL find your people... just keep doing you. How lucky are those who come into your light. Will you keep us posted? I love this part: "My next phase is to find my people close to home. I know I will because if I found them virtually, I will find them close."
Happiest of birthdays to you Rachel. Thank you for sharing your worst birthday story. My husband and I usually are traveling on our birthdays and are usually with friends. My favorite birthdays were when my boys were young and made me sweet cards and notes. I still treasure them. Have a wonderful day
Thank you for sharing your birthday with us. Happy birthday! I’m so glad you’ve discovered the love of volunteering with the shelter dogs. Last year, after retiring from a stressful job, I started finding myself again. Figuring out how I wanted to spend my time and who I wanted to share my time with. I missed my work friends and started walking dogs at our local shelter. It’s therapeutic for both me and each dog I walk. I always try to sit with them, brush some if they need it or just pet them and tell them don’t worry, you’re going to get adopted soon. I can imagine you are giving encouragement to each dog you walk, even if it’s just by your presence.
This makes me so excited for what's to come. Thank you for this beautiful share. I can see you loving on those dogs. You are such a kind, loving soul.
Happy happy birthday to you Rachel! My wish for you is that you have a wonderful day that is filled with light and love from all who love you. It is so important to celebrate you and be remembered even if its in the smallest of ways and I believe in celebrating ourselves for the whole year. No one else will do that for us, so we must do that for ourselves. You are loved.
Thank you, Carol! I love every word of this message.
Love this..." I believe in celebrating ourselves for the whole year, because no one else will, so we must do it for ourselves." Man that is beautiful and so true!!! What ways do you celebrate yourself each day?
Happiest of birthdays to you Rachel. You continue to guide me through this journey of life. I appreciate all that you say and the spaces you have created... thanks for being authentic and honest, it means so much and creates this space that you feel welcomed and known. I hope you have an amazing birthday and you are truly treasured today, as you should be every other day...
This means so much to me, Devyn.
I love your story. I don’t have a birthday story, but your post did get me thinking about connection and how to find it. I often find myself feeling disconnected and/or lonely even when surrounded by people at an event. I feel awkward striking up conversations with people I don’t know. I feel envious of people who are in groups.
It’s odd because on one hand I have some amazing support systems. And on the other I feel alone and confused. It’s hard to be honest about how I am feeling, even with those I consider close friends. It often feels like I should just be grateful to have them - and I am - and that should be enough. But sometimes, it’s not.
There’s a lot going on in my world right now. Teenagers pulling away, mom slipping further into dementia, dad aging and changing. Difficult things in my marriage. Sometimes it seems like I’m tied to all these people but so very alone at the same time.
Okay - I think I just used this comment space to write an important journal entry. Sharing it feels very vulnerable - and I need to be more vulnerable...so here goes. Thanks for listening.
I can't tell you how deeply I appreciate your willingness to be vulnerable, Elizabeth. I bet lots of people read your words and nodded; I bet lots of people read your words and felt less alone. And I love how you recognized a journal entry was begun here by opening your heart. I hope you continue the entry and perhaps brings you more clarity during a very confusing, hard time. Please know I am here reaching my hand back. Love you, Elizabeth.
Elizabeth, thanks for your amazing honesty. I saw myself in some of your reflections so thank you for sharing. I think it’s not so uncommon to feel unseen or alone even when we’re among others, even family.
Elizabeth I too feel lonely. I’ve retired as has my husband. I no longer have a car as the one I had was totaled. It’s winter so everyone is hibernating these days. Looking forward to a trip down to Georgia and Florida to visit good friends. Sending love and a huge hug. I’m going to check into therapy this next week as I think it might help me get clarity.
Happy birthday Rachel! You share the same birthday as our youngest. 🎂💕
As adults we long for connection but often are too busy or shy to put ourselves out there. I know that has been the case for me.
I just love how you are facilitating ways for like-minded people to come together in a safe and loving way.
Last year I made a conscious effort to prioritise making new friends and it opened up so many doors! I’m even connecting more meaningfully with old friends. It’s been such a blast and something I didn’t even know I needed. ✨
This is so encouraging! I love that you prioritized making new friends and that the efforts paid off.