My Back to School Grief + Joy

All of the public schools around me in Orlando went back to school this week  in what feels like the middle of summer to me.  I love the back-to-school feeling and season,  but admittedly, I’m not ready.  

On Saturday, Matt and I will help Ethan move into his off-campus apartment that he's leased for a year.🚚 He's going into his third year of college, and after two years of on-campus living with a lot of challenges, he's thrilled to be living with friends and having his own bedroom🏠. I'm excited about his fall semester. He's been cast as Harold Hill in the Music Man, and they'll be starting rehearsals very soon. 🎭

I've been an empty nester for four semesters and one summer semester, and I've been adjusting well after that initial six weeks of grief. However, I feel the difference with this transition. While we can't know what the future holds, I have a sense that he may not ever move back home again. 😔He might only come home to visit. My heart hurts just writing that,💔 especially knowing that what he considers "home" may no longer be here—with me.

Needless to say, I'm hugging him a lot this week, and thankfully, he's hugging me back.🤗 

If you are sending someone off to college, I'm sending you love in solidarity.  If someone you know is- check on them. They probably need a little extra TLC. 

Here's a past blog about the grief and joy of this transition.  

For this week's Thursday thoughts email, I'm sharing something I've been reading/reciting regularly. I change the words in red to suit the day. After each line, I pause, feel it, and see it. It's like a daily prayer, gratitude practice, and inspired visualization. Maybe you'll use it too or be inspired to write your own. 

Today, I get to love on + show up for people.
I am grateful for being gifted a life of abundance and deep love.
I am brave, messy, and kind. 
May I leave things better than I found them.
May I be a lighthouse and an anchor  for those around me.
May I love myself and know myself.
May I be an example of love, compassion, and integrity.
May I trade pressure + stress for pleasure in presence.
May I be guided and supported toward the next steps and delighted by magic and serendipity.
Today I ask for_________________. 
And so it is.  

Who are you being, and what are you asking for today? DM me; I'd love to know.

#Empty Nest, #College Transition, #Off-Campus Living, #Parent Grief, #Empty Nester Joy, #Gratitude Practice, #Daily Prayer, #Presence, #Love, #Compassion, #Integrity, #Magic, #Serendipity