Journey from Human Doing to Human Being

Welcome to my First Blog Post! I’m excited to begin this new adventure. I have always loved writing and have decided to devote some time for that part of my life now too. I just recently turned the BIG 5-0 and it has been motivating for me to start doing more of the things that I really want to do. Along with that, this new Empty Nest stage of life has provided me with some time on my hands. I’ve decided to be more intentional and to let myself be a “Dreamer” again. I think I used to be more of a dreamer, and probably like everyone else somewhere along the line I decided that wasn’t responsible. I felt I needed to grow up and get a regular job, pay bills, make meals, raise a family and try to find joy in the everyday moments. I did do that for many years and being a wife and mother gave me a deep sense of fulfilment and purpose. Those years of raising my kids and being very involved in their lives will always be a stage that I am extremely grateful for and treasure. I have learned to adapt and am figuring out how to navigate this new stage now too. I believe I have been an encourager and motivator for others to chase their dreams, believe in themselves and take some chances. Yet, honestly, in my own life especially in my early years, I felt like I was just barely surviving. I often had so much on my mind and burdening my heart that it was difficult for me to see that God had plans and purposes for me. Many of these things were good burdens, such as raising kids and taking care of my family, yet there were also some unsettled issues from my past still weighing me down. I began my journey towards healing my spirit back then, and it continues to be something I still work on. Now, it’s my turn to go from surviving to dreaming…and it’s exciting. I plan to share some details about this personal journey of healing and wholeness because I believe it will be helpful for others too. I am learning that it is ok, and often necessary to slow things down and just breathe, to find balance so I can keep my peace, to take some chances and chase my dreams. I believe everyone deserves to do that no matter what age or stage of life we are in. What I am also learning is that it is important to get very clear and specific about what I want, who I am now and what I need to create the life I want for myself in this new stage. One of the first things I’ve been doing is reflecting on my past, finding gratitude for certain things, letting go of others and coming to peace with it all. It has been an unexpected part of my journey to open up some things again that I worked so hard to close. Yet, with the passing of time and with God’s help, I have gained a new perspective and a deeper understanding of myself and others who have been part of my journey. It is within this clarity, that I am also finding more peace and along with that more acceptance of myself and others. As I’m becoming more clear about who I am now, I feel burdens lifting and am able to find even more joy in the everyday moments and excitement and hope for the future. I think every person probably lives with some regrets or things they wish would have been different, yet we also have the ability to let that be part of what we accept about ourselves and understand that all of what we have experienced lead us to this moment. When we get clear about who we are and what we’ve experienced, we can understand why we sometimes do what we do, why we struggle with certain things and what are strengths and weaknesses are. As we clear our minds and hearts, we also become free of burdens, regrets, fears and doubts. I often remind myself to pray, asking God to help me accept the things I can not change, courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. I have found this prayer to be extremely helpful, especially asking for wisdom. This wisdom is ongoing and I keep learning more about myself, others and the world around me. This learning process is helping me become more aware of my identity as a person, who I am at my very core. I am not just a human doing, taking care of all the responsible things and obligations I have to do, but also a human being. Our identity is who we are, our very being, not just doing. When we feel at peace within ourselves and in the world around us, we gain a greater sense of purpose, fulfillment and identity. I am coming to realize it is normal and probably necessary to let that purpose change and evolve when entering a new phase or going through a transitional time in life. If we don’t know who we are and what we believe in and value, then something or someone else will make those decisions for us. It is tempting to just keep busy to feel like we are being productive and fulfilling some purpose in this world. Slowing ourselves down, allowing time to gain clarity away from the distractions of this world will allow us the freedom to step into our calling with intention and purpose. This world needs more people like that. When we clear our minds and hearts, get free of past hurts and regrets, we have more space in our lives to step into our calling and get going with all that God has planned for us to do. It is challenging to go deep within ourselves, and definitely takes some work and effort, but we can trust the process. I invite you to continue with me as I share more details about this journey and how we can keep moving forward trusting in the good works God has prepared for us.