Sometimes

Sometimes as you live your life and do what you have to do, you tend to think of yourself as alone in your hardships. Today on facebook i posted a link about Catherine Graves who wrote a book about being a caregiver for her husband. the title of the article was "Wife slips into madness as husband dies of brain tumor". after posting the link, I added the comment, "i can so relate to this story".

a very sweet facebook friend commented back to me with this:

"Every day when I read your posts and see your photos I have the utmost admiration for you. Your creativity and talent are even more inspiring considering your role as a caregiver and mother. The fact you have any energy to do anything other than that is astounding. My background is in Community Service caring for people who are aged or disabled. Unlike you, at the end of my shift I could sign off and go home so I acknowledge that you, being a mother and carer of a young man with high needs, are doing an incredible job. I know it's not the same as having practical support but you have many friends on Facebook who are cheering you on. I hope our collective energy helps in some way. Your love and dedication to your family does not go unnoticed and whilst we are all amazed by your art we are blown away by your strength and fortitude, your caring and selflessness. You're never alone xxx"

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I have to tell you, I was quite surprised to read something so incredibly sensitive and understanding to the day to day of my life. It was if she glimpsed inside my soul and saw what lays hidden there (the pain, the grief, the fear, the uncertainty, the stress, the sorrow- all of it).

I truly am grateful that she took the time to tell me that. It meant the world to me.

refections from the pool of pain - a note to a friend

today i was blog reading and was reading a blog post of a friend who is a 6 year cancer survivor. she shared many things with us, but most importantly, she shared what she has learned through the process. I am not a cancer survivor, but a survivor of what i like to refer to as "a life altering experience", so i could relate.

I wanted to leave her a little comment on her blog in response and before you know it, i had written a little essay. I have to say, it was so heartfully written (is that a real word?) that i decided to share what i wrote with you. for all of you that has had to overcome pain and obstacles, this is for you as well.

There are some of us that cross the road during times of devastation. We looked both ways and we walked across. We have to handle a lot, maintain a sense of self, be brave, handle fear and more. Where is that road crossing? it crossed over into a different realm of this life, where we now view the world from a survivor's perspective. We shrug off trivialities (in the form of drama, gossip, meanness, etc). We know to appreciate the little things. We are observant to others pain and quick to observe who needs a little encouragement. Very importantly, we are too aware of the fragility of our existence. We've made a conscience decision to surrender any sort of control over this random blur of time, we call life. When we make it to the other side of the road, we have gained much wisdom. It's like passing a test - there are only a few who have achieved such a high grade. A+ to you my friend,

cheers,
kecia