Recently, I had a meeting with myself. The me from ten years ago. The meeting was set up by the WordPress daily prompters. They suggested that we meet for coffee. But I don’t like coffee. So I changed the rules by meeting at Hardee’s for breakfast biscuits and orange juice. Not the healthiest of choices, per se, but I’ve always liked the biscuits, just as I did ten years ago.
I wanted to give myself some knowledge of things to come in the future. Ten years ago, he was happily married, but he wouldn’t know that as the years would pass, that marriage would begin to deteriorate. And as that happened, he would face his greatest life challenge to date—the breakup of his marriage and how to cope with the loss. Though he did what he could to keep the marriage going, he realized that he was he only one who wanted it to continue. And so he watched who he thought was the love of his life walk right out of the door, and not long after, into the arms of someone else.
I told ten-year-ago me that there would be grieving, and a struggle to cope with the loss. But that he would cope. There would be days where he didn’t want to get up in the morning. Days when he thought people would look at him differently. His finances would hit the wall, but eventually, they would get better. And that his emotions would be up and down for a while, but that he would get settled, with the help of counseling and his friends.
I also told him that he would be living alone ten years in the future. The me from ten years ago could hardly believe this; at that time, there were four people in the house together. But yes, the girls grew up, and the wife was gone—but you would be fine with this change. Being on your own was an opportunity to grow, and learn about yourself. The self you pushed to the background while supporting everyone else. I told him that things would be looking up, even as I went through a lot to get where I am now. That while things aren’t quite where I’d like them to be, I’m grateful that they aren’t where they were a few years back.
Finally, I would tell him that when he gets to where I am, he could look back and see the many ways he had grown-emotionally and spiritually. He would be in a better place, even though there was a lot of unhappiness and grief to get through. I would tell him to use the lessons that he will learn over the course of that time to realize that he can succeed, move forward and even thrive.
Great post. Amazing, isn’t? Looking back, seeing the journey, and wondering how the hell you made it through? Great job persevering, surviving, and thriving.
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Thank you! Yes, when you look back over it, you can see how far you have come; even as when you were going through, you had no idea if you could ever make it.
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Great post Tracy! It’s unfortunate we sometimes have to go through hard times in order to grow and change.
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It is, but that is when you can learn about yourself, see what you are made of and whether you can get over and make things better than before.
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Well, you don’t really have a choice but to be strong and move forward.
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True.
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Hi, I’m here sooner than I thought and glad to have joined your meeting. I have had lots of those myself recently though mine are to do with a career change – daunting in itself. Yes, it is amazing isn’t it ? – how at the time life takes a turn, we can’t see the wood for the trees. You will always be amazed when you look back. Still, I say well done to you for your own inner strength. Have a great week my friend. Best. Chevvy.
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Thank you Chevvy8…So glad to see you back. I hope you come through the other side stronger and better than before!
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Whew! Loved this! Very good self reflection.
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Thanks! I think I am still learning from that event, even now.
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