S.T.E.M.

The time was drawing near. My family and I would say goodbye to friends.  So much of me wanted to avoid them because skipping the farewell seemed easier, but I knew better. Parting ways is hard no matter how it happens, so I determined myself to relish the moments left and focus on the good. When the time came to wave our final goodbye, I saw my little boy standing at the door with tears rolling down his face. For as emotional as my kids are, I underestimate the strength of their feelings and the freedom they exhibit to display them. I started verbalizing my own self talk in hopes it would help him cope as well as hold back my own emotions clawing to the surface. "We will see them again buddy. Let's think about the fun we had with them".   His tears began to fall faster and he said, "but mom, I am sad". Those precious words were so simple, so perfect, so natural and so clear.  At that moment in time, he did not need to focus on the good to avoi...

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I’m bracing for a move. Although my mind is reeling with task lists and thousands of various physical arrangements, I’m trying to emotionally prep. This is not our first rodeo and I’ve noticed a pattern in myself. As I initially make my way down my task list, I feel fantastic. New curtains, check! Damage forms filled out, check! Find fastest route to commissary, check! It is about month three when I find myself discouraged. The dust has settled and the remaining checks on my task list are taking FOREVER to complete. My time of feeling productive has slowed and the reality of loneliness is settling in. Although I haven’t written ‘find good friends’ on my task list, it is subconsciously there. I know to tell myself building community takes time, but I don’t want to wait. I find myself desperate to expedite the process and begin marketing my personality in conversations saying,  I typically feel this way…  or  I’m the kind of person who…  hoping others can insta...