Gratitude, Leaving a Piece of My Heart in Connecticut, and Goodness of Social Media

I've felt this weight before, and social media has a funny way of reminding you of the things you wish to forget but are essential to remember. These things resurface the painful events that shape your life. This happens in ways you can not comprehend until you are in the light on the other side.

In my case, the memory popped up this week. The post was on October 14th, 2020. The day I dropped my youngest off at a residential treatment facility, precisely 135 miles door to door. It could have been 2,000 miles away, but it didn’t matter; he was gone. COVID made sure visitation was sparse, and it didn’t help that he said he didn’t want me to come anyway. But that's another story.

I am writing to remind myself of the importance of using what has happened in your life for a greater purpose. Everything has a lesson, even if you don’t want it. I am writing because getting caught up and losing sight of the important stuff is so easy, and perhaps you need a reminder.

You see, I temporarily lost sight of this. Things aren’t exactly happening quickly enough for me. They aren’t happening how I wanted them to happen. Patience was never my foremost quality. Once I set my mind on something, it never happens fast enough. Gratitude is bringing me back slowly.

Social media has its good points; as I said, it will never let me forget these pivotal moments that have shaped the trajectory of my journey. I finally feel like I am on the path I was always meant to be on. I just didn’t have the experience to spawn my why. I have been training for this next step my whole life. Again, I am grateful for the experiences I can take and share with others, no matter how painful they were.

Social media reminded me today that I left a piece of my heart at Turnbridge, but it eventually came back stronger. He came back stronger. Social media reminded me that I had to ask a community of friends, family, and strangers for financial help. It reminded me that many good people are willing to help if you ask.

Social media reminded me that time can seem like it stands still or moves at the speed of light. This is where the gratitude comes in.

This is a gracious reminder to be grateful for the time; however, it moves because when it's gone, it's gone forever.