So...yeah...it's been awhile.
Before I get started on the topic of the day, I have to say that I'm giggling a little bit at myself right now. Why? Because I'm a dork, that's why. Back before technology and blogs and Facebook I used to keep track of life events in a journal. In high school I wrote in it diligently. Come to think of it, I should find that because I'm sure it would be very entertaining to read through. I think it was Jill that got me started (yes, Jill....you). In college I did pretty well for the first while and then, well, the entries started getting more and more spread apart. The whole point of this is that when I would go to write a new entry and realize that it had been 6 months or a year or whatever, I'd start the entry with "Wow! It's been awhile!" or something of the sorts. Why I thought that I needed to make excuses for myself to myself, I'm not sure why. Like I couldn't look at the dates and figure it out? Unlike this blog, which undoubtedly will be read by millions, no one else will probably ever read those entries, so why start it that way?! Dork.
Anyway...it HAS been awhile! There has certainly not been a lack of things going on, but just finding the time to sit down and write has been challenging. Nonetheless, I felt inspired to do so today!
In a way, I feel like today is the close of one chapter and the beginning of another. Actually...it's more like the end of one book and the beginning of the next in the series that I call LIFE. And let me tell you, it feels amazing! I feel like a huge weight on my shoulders has been lifted. And as I sit here reflecting, I just have to wonder how many of you have a "thing" in your lives. Some "thing" that has been there, waiting patiently in the background to be dealt with. Some "thing" that has kept you from truly moving forward in your path of life. Some "thing" that has come and gone in your thoughts frequently, but dismissed over and over again. Some "thing" that you desperately want to take action on, but just can't do it. Some "thing" that is so painful that you just want it to go away. It won't. Trust me.
For six years, almost to the day, I've had such a "thing". For six years, I've been trying to figure out when and where to share with Hailee that she has a sister that was born one day before her 1st birthday. For three years, I tried to cope with being in a marriage when I knew there was another child out there that didn't belong to me, but who was Hailee's sister. For three years after that, I tried to be patient, hoping that her father would make the choice to be in this child's life and bring them together. For one year, I've watched Hailee play with her sister on the playground at school, not knowing that she was much more than a friend. For one month, I've talked and fought and begged for them to know. And today...today that secret is no longer a secret. Today Hailee went to school knowing that her little kindergarten friend, Katie, is also her sister. Today they talked on the playground and told all of their friends. Today they know the truth and today starts the beginning of a new relationship and a new chapter for the two of them. And today....today is the end of that story for me. No more unfinished business. No more pain. No more secrets. Today marks a new beginning...and somehow I just know that this story will have a fairy tale ending.
If you have a "thing"...whether it's big or small...I encourage you to take action. Don't shelf it. Don't ignore it and don't let anyone else force you to do that either. It's your life. Grab hold of the "thing" and face it. It will be difficult. It will hurt. But the pain that you experience initially will be much less than the pain you will feel over the course of your life if you don't. And the relief and joy you will feel when you've faced it, will make it worth it.