Something worth crying about

It hit me as I was decorating my mom’s Christmas tree for the 25th time and “River” by Joni Mitchell played on the speaker. It was my last day visiting my family in New Jersey. Tears came streaming down my face. Tears of grief for years I’ll never get back, tears of gratitude for all the beautiful memories we’ve shared, and tears for the realization of how quickly time goes by. It was one of those moments I wish I could stop time and savor a little longer.  So much has changed since the first Christmas tree decoration but the love I have for my family is stronger than ever.

 I fear I’ve been so focused on reaching my goals and making an impact on the broader world these past few years that I haven’t been as present as I could be with the people I love. I’ve always had big dreams for myself. I want to become successful so that I can give back in a big way, but change doesn’t have to be huge to be meaningful. The simple act of being present and actively listening can lead to so much joy. It's more powerful than ever considering how busy and distracted we all are trying to keep up with this crazy world.

We all want to leave a legacy, to make something that lasts longer than we do. But more than anything, I want to be someone who loves well, who is a good friend, a good daughter, a good partner, who is always there for people when they need help. Someone who is not afraid to be authentically themselves and encourages others to do the same. Someone who knows how lucky it is to have something worth crying about.

Keep shining your light!

-BG