December: Letting Go

We must let go of the life we planned, so as to make room for the one that is waiting for us. ~ Joseph Campbell

​It must be said: 2014 was a difficult year for me. My marriage of more than twenty years came to an end, and I didn’t accept it easily. In fact, I fought it tooth and nail, most painfully on the internal level. Why is change so very difficult to embrace? 

At 52 (and blessed with health and good genes), I probably have at least forty years to live this second act of life. At 17, my daughter is nearing her own Independence Day and, for better or worse, I no longer have to consider the wishes and needs of a husband. What to do?

Of course… hit the books. All through my life, books have been my teachers, solace and entertainment. So 2014 became “The Year of the Self-Help Book” for me. Also the year of meditation, counseling, journaling, coaching, Reiki treatments – you get the picture. Since I couldn’t escape the pain, I dove headfirst into it instead and found the waters… bracing. This is heavyweight, industrial strength personal growth we’re talking about, which (although it TOTALLY SUCKS) is somehow oddly addictive.

And that is how I find myself here, today. With life as I had planned it gone, with both the burden and the opportunity of re-defining who I am and what I stand for, I hereby declare myself to be (drumroll, please): a professional student of life. 

Just what does a P.S.O.L. do, you ask? By happy coincidence, all the things that I love to do. Read, travel, take classes, write, connect with other learners, troll the internet for fascinating ideas, and so on. In fact, my new credo is: if it doesn’t feel inspiring, don’t do it. I’ll report back once a month to chronicle what I’ve learned and I hope to see you here! Your comments, encouragement, and suggestions are always welcome.