Light Facing Firsts

“Don’t compare your Chapter 1 to someone else’s Chapter 20.” ~ Unknown

Light Facing Firsts
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I’ve had my own taste of firsts this year (exhausting and exhilarating at the same time).

Let’s see...starting an administrative role at my job, becoming a stepmom, navigating life married to a firefighter, pivoting during a pandemic...you get it.

We can all create our laundry list of firsts. I know it’s not only me, we are all swirling around in our firsts as we sit, stand, Zoom and finally get outdoors with others.

Whew?

Did I say exhausting and exhilarating? I sure did!

When I think about it, there were many challenges to overcome but dang did I learn.

Let’s think about this deeper.

• What firsts have we faced this year?
• Who have we empowered and lifted up as they faced firsts this year?
• What did we learn and what did they learn?

If we know firsts are right around the corner this upcoming year, how will we pay attention to what we and others need to navigate the firsts with well-being in mind.

In all honesty, there were many times this past year that I wavered in my faith and family. I let go of the things that should have stayed in my life and along the way I also gained treasures that have made my life richer this year.

One thing that I’ve missed is writing my blog, finding the head space over the last 12 months was hard to find no matter how deep I tried to dig within. But you know what I missed most! I missed the early Friday mornings that I would call my mom to read what I wrote as we both drank coffee, me in North Carolina and her in Virginia.

The gift that came this year was me stepping into the uncomfortable and sharing the light of others. In the midst of the pandemic and exposure to racial injustice this year, I’ve gained the treasure of deeper relationships with close friends, family members and colleagues. Stepping in spaces, listening, being brave, getting uncomfortable, speaking up and sharing the light of critical voices.

The next twelve months I hope to be braver and bolder and empower others to do the same.

Facing firsts is no easy task, many times we are navigating our firsts at the same time others around us are facing their firsts too. If this is the case what does this mean for how we take care of ourselves and others.

This week I got to meet up with ten first-year students and it hit me when I got home, I’ve been struggling many days this past year and so have they. We found space to physically distance with no masks and eat ice cream together. We shared the challenges of the year and celebrated making it through and our hopes for next year.

For this Friday, may we reflect on the firsts we faced this year and the times we supported others facing their firsts too.

We can be brave and bold together knowing that each year will bring a first to face, and right around the corner is an opportunity for each of us to support someone going through their first.

It’s been a while, but get ready the posts are coming, I’ll be reading again with mom and things are about to get real with the light sharing of others.

Much love and light friends!