Monday, December 31, 2012

2012: The Year Of Acceptance

You may remember my New Year’s post last year in which I shared that I had a feeling 2012 was going to be a year of change, growth and addressing my fears.

And it was.

Much of what I experienced this year has had a theme entitled: Acceptance.

We like to think that we have complete control over our lives until something happens that puts us out of control. And then we freak because we realize that the only thing we can do is accept what happens, because we really don’t have control other than the control we have over how we choose to perceive and move through it.

We can try to fight it, change it, fix it, or even deny it. But it is what it is.

Control, if we don’t watch ourselves carefully, can give us a false sense of security because it places our life into a nice, neat and tidy box with the label: MY LIFE AS I PLANNED IT.

Yet, what do we do when life throws us an unplanned curve ball?

One of the biggest lessons I have personally had to learn in my life is not that I have the power to change certain things or the power to manifest certain things that I want, because I know that’s possible.

My challenge has always been the lesson of accepting the things I cannot change; trusting there is a deeper meaning to what has occurred.

I share a great deal of my personal life on this blog, however, I do not share every single aspect because it may involve family members, my job, and people whose identity I don’t feel I have the right to share on the Internet.

I’ve had a great deal of things happen to me this year.

Changes. Awakenings. Challenges.

All of which have been HUGE lessons for me.

However, the most important and life-altering lesson I learned was through my mother’s illness and death.

I sensed from the beginning that the only way I could move through this in a positive way was to accept and embrace; having faith that I would be supported in knowing how to move through it.

Ironically, my mother was actually the one who taught me this – she and my faith in a Higher Power.

From the start, my mother said to me, “We just have to accept this, Ronnie.”

And when I look back to the time when she was first diagnosed with cancer, I can see that every single step along the way was being Divinely orchestrated for the highest good.

Through accepting.

I was blessed with two fabulous weeks in July, when she and I shared quality time with one another.

We talked openly, we laughed, we reminisced, and we bonded on a profound level with each other.

My brother and I, even though we have always been close, moved even closer during this time.

I have always loved my brother, Tom, but I love him even more now.

Yes, we know in our minds that the death of our loved ones is inevitable. Yet, when the time comes we panic because we wonder how we’re going to handle and control the process. We also emotionally project into the void that’s going to be left when they die.

These are the things I have learned from the passing of my mother…

As hard as it is, embrace and accept it. Because in accepting, you move naturally through the process of grief and fear, and at the same time you’re given the strength and support to experience it.

Challenging and life-altering experiences often show you how much love you have in your life in the way of family and friends, because of the loyal support you receive from them.

Life is forever changing and shifting, therefore nothing is ever permanent.

Allow yourself to feel all the emotions you feel as you move through a challenging experience because as you feel them, those are the same emotions that will heal you.

Look for the precious pieces of gold within a challenge, because they’re there.

And lastly, don’t ever forget to tell someone that you love them.

Yes, 2012 has been a year of challenges. But I’m grateful because it has taught me the power in acceptance.

So thank you, 2012!

And thank you all for being a HUGE support for me this year. I couldn’t have done it without ya!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

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