We spoke of pleasant surprises. Like the fact that those men all seem astonishingly well, considering the ordeal they have just been through. I am so happy and thankful for all of them. What strength from within they have demonstrated for the world.
Do you ever surprise yourself? It seems I do that a bit lately.
I never used to. For years & years I thought I knew myself so well. I liked to say that I felt as if I had been the same person with the same thoughts since I was about 12 years old. I thought, 'Well, I guess I'll feel and think this way even when I'm 90.' I know that's kind of weird. I mean, people are supposed to change over time. And even though it's true that I was a pretty precocious kid, I now know just how ridiculous that idea was.
So one day, I turned 30. No, seriously. It was like a light switch got flipped. I realized, in what seemed like one giant flash, that maybe I wasn't quite as familiar with myself as I had assumed.
This person that I thought I knew so well suddenly had entirely new perspectives and desires, that either changed what I thought I knew or expanded certain aspects of myself in directions I never saw coming.
I like to think that I didn't go through the gradual changes that most people do during adolescence and early adulthood because I didn't feel safe to do so. So it all came on with a flood of startling surprise.
This rapid process was interesting to say the least. Within a few weeks it was as if I had met myself for the very first time. Definitely an odd sensation.
Some people were amazingly happy for me. Others got left in the dust. I wish I could say I was sorry for that because it feels like I should have been sorry. But I wasn't.
I was just so free.
Free to have my own opinions and actually know why I have them.
Free to pursue my own interests without having to explain them to anyone, unless I wanted to.
Free to make my own mistakes.
Free to live my own truths.
Free to belly dance, free to take gourmet cooking lessons, free to explore old childhood loves with completely new eyes.
Free to live bigger than I ever imagined.
I never knew how small my world was, until I allowed myself to outgrow it. My husband got a whole new wife. Good thing he liked her!
So it looks like the winds of change are bringing more than just Autumn this year.
I've heard it said that people's tastes change about every 7 years or so. Looks like I'm right on time...
My friend and I ended the discussion that brought on this entry with these thoughts: Do you ever really know what all could be hiding inside yourself? Does it scare you or does it make you feel free?
If you aren't open to change, you are sure to miss some of the best things that life has to offer.
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