I don’t know if that makes any sense but that’s how I came back: the same but different: more willing to be open with people even about things I think they won’t like, more assured that the path I am traveling is the right one for me, more focused on what I need to do to get there. Just more “Lisa” – can you stand it?? :)

I still have to write an eight page paper from my “Death & Dying” class (from two years ago! Drag your feet much??) and it came to me on the flight home that the theme needs to be “Death as re-birth” and to look at a few of the relationships in my life from the perspective of what I gained as each has ended. I’ve been the “mom” (to my mother and to guys I’ve dated), the “invisible one” to pretty much most of my family (they might argue otherwise), and many other roles/relationships I’ve yet to flesh out. With every goodbye, you learn.

“Comes the Dawn”

After awhile you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security,
And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises,
And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open,
And learn to build all your roads
On today because tomorrow’s ground
Is too uncertain for plans, and futures have
A way of falling down in mid-flight.
After awhile you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much.
So you plant your own garden and decorate
Your own soul, instead of waiting
For someone to bring you flowers.
And you learn that you really can endure…
that you really are strong
And you really do have worth.
And you learn and learn.. .
With every goodbye you learn.

– Veronica Shoffstall

Image from Flickr