I don’t have biological sisters.
However, I have a group of women who have been lovingly in my life for decades.
They are my sisters.
We have played together, prayed together, cried together, loved together, and grown together.
We’ve moved closer and farther apart for a multitude of personal reasons.
Even with that, we remain closer than ever.
Our texts, FaceTime moments, calls, emails and the like keep us grounded in our friendships.
It helps the support in such times as these.
My Life
It’s filled with the love of family, especially my two kids and my parents.
My parents live in a different state so we are intentional about staying connected.
I have just wanted to make sure I am raising well-rounded, loving children who are respectful, and who are encouraged to think critically and speak their minds.
To choose wisely but the path that they want, although I have suggestions as their mom/adviser (depending on their age).
I work outside the home and I have just been making sure I am able financially to take care of my family.
It just seems like work and home with a sprinkle of seeing friends and hanging with my kids.
You know, living. So I thought.
The Life I’m Starting.
I was in Chicago to visit family and give my dad some love since he just came home from the hospital.
During that visit, I saw a few close friends.
They catered to me and we spent some great time together and had some wonderful conversations.
We were just chatting about vacations, hobbies, etc.
I was asked, “What trips have you been on, sis?
I’m thinking, Trips?
I have bills to pay and kids to raise (one is already a young adult).
I will get around to it at some point.
Then, I added it aloud to the conversation.
They were talking about the trips they had taken and what they planned for the future with their family on their own or with friends.
All the fun details of how they planned it and paid for it, for some reason, didn’t compute.
I’m still thinking, How do they go on all these trips with all the bills and inflation, etc.?
We spoke about living.
Understanding that life includes enjoyment which in most cases, vacationing.
At least it should.
It helped me come to the realization that if we are, we should no longer put off these memories that we can create for ourselves and our families.
While giving our body and mind a rest.
My sisters offered me the TEA in (3) on how it’s done:
- First, change your mindset. They believe that I deserve to enjoy life. Relaxing, vacationing, and creating memories. Once I believe that, all else will fall into place.
- They make payments on trips/cruises. They even make payments after the trip has been taken with certain payment platforms. This is a game-changer.
- Stop procrastinating and just book the trip!
I have said for years how I am going to and I am taking my kids places and never do it.
The procrastination has to stop.
With each tidbit of conversation, begin to come alive.
When every glow I began to feel, my life was changing in those very moments.
Conclusion
I am learning to live again.
To really live.
Understand, I will no longer prioritize just working and coming home.
Realizing that I can and will now choose to build better relationships and welcome joy.
Starting with doing those things I have always believed that I couldn’t.
Whether convincing myself I couldn’t afford it, nervous about doing something different or even feeling I didn’t deserve it.
I am excited about choosing our next vacation, the way to pay for it, and the thought of our new way of living.
To my sisters…Thank you.