This past few weeks have been full of challenges. They are the sort of challenges that come at you like a spray of bullets. Unexpected, overwhelming, loud and deadly. I could be exaggerating using the word deadly, except that it provides the perfect description to the impact on our emotions and minds when we are bombarded from every side. Those bullets can come in the form of friendly fire intended to take you down or they are unintentional yet the impact or the result can be the same. Your breath is taken away for a moment as you attempt to gather your thoughts and re gain your balance.

Re gaining your balance isn’t necessarily a quick process. It may require you to take time out for self care and reflection. I like to sit quietly and think about what steps I can take to get out of the trenches I’ve fallen into as self protection.

What can I learn from the incident?

What is in it for me that requires growth and change?

I acknowledge that some situations we find ourselves in are not necessarily our fault, there is often another person involved who needs to take responsibility for their part. Yet we don’t have control over that aspect of moving forward, we are accountable for the actions we take and what outcome we want for our life.

This year I am turning 55 years old. As a women getting to this point has been a life long journey. I have been married, given birth to five children, divorced after 27 years. Watched my mother battle a terrible aggressive cancer for eight months and saw her take the last breath. Remarried a wonderful man. Have been estranged from two of my children. Had my thyroid gland removed due to cancer. Continue to having ongoing issues with my body while it tries to regain normality following the thyroid removal with the added symptoms of menopause.

When faced with challenges there are no rules to how you are supposed to feel. I think at times we need to give ourselves grace to feel those emotions, reminding ourselves that everyone goes through tough times. It is a little like a love/hate relationship with life.

This past week all of the above have been on my mind and words haven’t come easy. I have had to take time off work for self care. It’s ok to take some time out for yourself. All the other parts of life can wait a little, it will still be there. Don’t neglect yourself in tough times, do what you need to do and remember you are not alone.