So my son has launched and I’m so proud, and equally sad.
It’s what we all wish for our children— to excel and make their lives happen. We hope they will find happiness as an adult. My son’s fierce independence took me by surprise. He joined the coast guard and moved to the East Coast. Now he is thriving and I am amazed at his competence and inner strength.
Everyone warns you of the “empty nest” syndrome, but it’s only once some time has passed that you realize the world has become very different. A strange quiet has settled over my house. As the silence persists, you feel the empty space where there was once so much activity, growth, love, frustration and often conflict.
It’s a bittersweet season of life as I go through the clutter of his belongings. Memories of his little face and squirrely laughter bombard me. The many times he got into mischief, the tears when he was hurt and the sweet moments when he expressed his love. I have a good memory, which is a blessing and a curse. I find that many gifts have this polarity.
So when I feel overwhelmed, I practice a one-pointed focus, using techniques such as chanting a mantra of support. I use the space to create a meditative quiet in my mind and connect to universal consciousness.
I do this so I can move forward and live a full life.
I let go of the past that I cannot change, and imagine a prosperous future on all levels. To do this kind of work, we have to trust that Spirit will guide us toward proper choices.
Now I’m ready to create my new chapter. #sohum