Inner Strength

Howdy to all my friends and readers!!!! I want to write about inner strength. I have faced many trials in my life. I truly believe that all the trials which life has put before me has made me who I am today. Inner strength is an essential element in every situation we face.

I have come to realize that one knows not the inner strength they have until they are forced to walk into hard places. And, I have come to realize to not fear death but to fear a life not lived.

How did I come to realize these things? Here is a bit of background information for those of you who don't know me:

I went from my family to being married to Allen. We were together 20 years. Allen knew my biggest fear.... I feared being without him. He was such a part of me. He had a seizure which lead to his heart stopping from which he didn't survive. I remember waiting for the paramedics to arrive and I knew that he was dying. I cried so hard as I looked at him and said: "It's going to be okay." I knew it wasn't going to be okay...... He died 10 minutes later.

The next days were my "energizer bunny days." To understand that statement, you would have to have been there!!! Anyway, shortly after his death, I started attending a grief group. Upon starting this group, I was very timid. However, as time marched on, I started to grow. Dr. Trudy looked at me on the last night of the group and said: You are not the same woman who first came in here. That is a very true statement.

Dr. Trudy advised me many things. The one thing I adhered to is to not make any major decisions in the first year. When your spouse dies in the house, your first instinct is to sell the house. Later, many widows/widowers regret that decision. A year later, I still want to sell my home. I will work towards that end.

I would say that I went through a series of "choices." I write this to say: Choose to live. Choose to love. Choose to laugh. Choose and choose well as life puts issues in your path. Choose happiness. It is such a waste of time to do anything else!!! Allow your inner strength to propel you forward........

"May you find serenity and tranquility in a world you may not always understand. May the pain you have known and the conflict you have experienced give you the strength to walk through life facing each new situation with courage and optimism. Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone. May you discover enough goodness in others to believe in a world of peace. May a kind word, a reassuring touch, and a warm smile be yours every day of your life, and may you give these gifts as well as receive them. Remember the sunshine when the storm seems unending." Unknown