We do all these things and not only ignore the beams of light but actively push the light away because? It feels uncomfortable alongside the darkness.  It feels wrong to let the light in when it’s so dark. Being grateful that the sun is still rising, for the sound of laughter, for littles in Halloween costumes, and for the holiday season rapidly approaching, is the way back. Grasping for any sign of joy and happiness is not wrong; it’s our life raft. 

You know, the everyday people who are just like me and just like you. The ones who also want to be able to focus on their families, their careers, and their own life’s purpose but instead are simply trying to survive. We all want to survive the circumstances we live in or the trip to the grocery store or the local bowling alley. 

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness month and I’m also just shy of hitting my 5th anniversary of being cancer-free. It’s a reason to celebrate and I am so grateful to not just be here, but to have shared in so many wonderful memories with my family and friends over these last few years.

“Life is amazing. And then it’s awful. And then it’s amazing again. And in between the amazing and the awful, it’s ordinary and mundane and routine. Breathe in the amazing. Hold on through the awful. And relax and exhale during the ordinary. That’s just living a heartbreaking, soul-healing, amazing, awful, ordinary life. And it’s breathtakingly beautiful.” L.R. Knost

These experiences have changed us and changed our perspective. What once seemed crucial has softened, and other things have fallen off the radar altogether. It’s part of what made returning to the blog difficult. When we thought we had a handle on our new approach, there was a shift. Not to mention, creativity requires inner capacity and spaciousness for it to breathe. For many weeks, we felt neither.

Phew! That turned out to be a more extended break than we imagined. We’re back! I wondered if we would write those words again for a million reasons. We have been through some hard times since our unplanned hiatus. To be fair, we have also had some great times mixed in. We have had respites…