I have two confessions today. Here's the first one. Last week’s letter was about being pregnant and giving birth. One of my subscribers to this newsletter, Janet, highlighted this part to me. “But that’s basically all you can do is don’t resist and let it happen. And breathe. It’s only at the end when you know it’s time to push. But it’s natural and organic and hopefully quick.” She responded: “I feel like you know this from your own experience, and from Lisa’s, but there is a lot of pain and hard work involved in giving birth, and sometimes it’s not natural and organic. Sometimes we need help from others to bring the birth about. Sometimes we need a C-section or wound repair after the child emerges. “Your metaphor is good, but your phrasing missed a bit of the messiness and labor of childbirth.” Janet, you’re absolutely right. And even though Lisa did have our 3 kids naturally, her labor was long and painful. But basically without any complications. There are a lot of moms who have more painful and sad experiences around this, and I’m sorry I didn’t acknowledge that in my letter. I’ll do better. Second, my second confession. I realize I’m struggling with sadness. Grief. As many of you know, my dad is already “gone” with severe dementia and Parkinson’s and is in a nursing home. Then I lost my mom in December. That was a sudden shock. Even though she was 87, I thought we’d have more time. No, we didn’t. I got there in time to see her before she passed. I’m grateful for that. Then, my siblings all blew up because of one of us decided to be divisive and it got very ugly. So, that’s over now too. Last year was a year of incredible loss. And grief is strange, isn’t it? I mean, immediately following tragedy and loss, you feel it in the forefront. But months later, you live your life and suddenly notice you could cry right now. And you drop into a sinkhole of sadness. So, I’m getting outside more. In nature. Being with Lisa. Being with others we love. And doing things that bring life and joy. Listen to music, and a sad song will come on and I’ll let it make me sad and even cry. Feel the feels. That’s what I always say. That way, it flows through you and doesn’t get dammed up inside. |