Grace

As much as I have resisted it, mid-life has a way of shaking you to your core. Friends die of cancer. We experience betrayal, and some of us divorce. As hard as it is, some of us are lucky to be able to support our parents while we watch their slow decline while others have already lost theirs. I have experienced all of the above. Mid-life is no joke. The last few years have been the most challenging thus far on my journey. However, I am grateful for the strength these years have given me. I know now that I am a survivor, just like my Mother. I choose to be vulnerable because, ultimately, it strengthens me. I write because it is a vessel for me to connect with others. So many of us are hiding behind the facade of perfection as if somehow we will start believing our own bullshit. Life isn’t designed to be easy. Learn the lessons, thank the teacher, and keep moving—Lokomaika’i in Hawaiian means to act with generosity, kindness, and grace. It has been my mantra this last year. I may have fumbled a few times, but I keep getting back up with as much grace as possible. I wish the same for you.