A Labyrinth Home

For as long as I can remember, my life has been a series of hellos and goodbyes. My parents got divorced when I was young, and thereafter, my mom moved back to where she was raised on Shelter Island. My sister and I lived with my dad in sunny Wellington, FL during the school year and then on our breaks we would visit my mom on SI. It was the best of both worlds – growing up in south Florida and then getting out of there during the hot, and humid, summer months. However, I had to continuously say goodbye (either to my dad for the summer, or to my mom when I left to go back home). You’d think as a result of this familiarity with saying goodbye, I would be more comfortable and open to doing so. But I am not, it never gets any easier. A goodbye means closing one door, perhaps one that offers comfort and ease, to then walk through another one that may be exciting but also daunting as we are entering unknown territory. What we are experiencing now will inevitably be different from what we will experience when we walk through a new door. But as so many spiritual leaders say – you can’t grow in your comfort zone, or someone close to me said recently, “Ships are safe in the harbor, but that’s not what they are built for.” Such wise words that carry resounding truth! We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to embrace the life that is waiting for us – a beautiful Joseph Campbell quote – so in other words, let go and let in a new beginning.

One door closes but another always opens!

Peace.