"....I've got to begin again
Though I don't know how to start
Yes, I've got to begin again
And it's hard"
~ Billy Joel
I was listening to a Billy Joel song the other day and it reminded me of all the friends and clients that I have had who find themselves in a place they never wanted or imagined- divorced, alone, waiting for someone new to come along, waiting for some new life to start, waiting for the hurt to stop. And I wish that I could show them all that at some point they will stop being so sad, they will stop being so heartbroken. They will stop being so bewildered and they will stop being so angry. They will stop feeling sorry and they will stop feeling lost. They will stop wandering aimlessly and they will stop clutching at the straws of the past.
They will realize, as the song goes, that they have to begin again. That they will wake up one day and not feel quite so broken. They will look at their life and they will decide to take control. They will decide not to be defined by the past, but to instead be guided by their hope for the future. They will be not lesser for having lost but greater for having survived. They will feel more for having an open heart and feel grateful for having new love to give.
And it won't come quickly but it also won't take forever. It will take as long as it takes for them to grieve, and then I promise they will be able to move on. It may not be easy, but it won't last as long as they fear. They will begin again because there cannot be another option.
This is the life.
-a
Though I don't know how to start
Yes, I've got to begin again
And it's hard"
~ Billy Joel
I was listening to a Billy Joel song the other day and it reminded me of all the friends and clients that I have had who find themselves in a place they never wanted or imagined- divorced, alone, waiting for someone new to come along, waiting for some new life to start, waiting for the hurt to stop. And I wish that I could show them all that at some point they will stop being so sad, they will stop being so heartbroken. They will stop being so bewildered and they will stop being so angry. They will stop feeling sorry and they will stop feeling lost. They will stop wandering aimlessly and they will stop clutching at the straws of the past.
They will realize, as the song goes, that they have to begin again. That they will wake up one day and not feel quite so broken. They will look at their life and they will decide to take control. They will decide not to be defined by the past, but to instead be guided by their hope for the future. They will be not lesser for having lost but greater for having survived. They will feel more for having an open heart and feel grateful for having new love to give.
And it won't come quickly but it also won't take forever. It will take as long as it takes for them to grieve, and then I promise they will be able to move on. It may not be easy, but it won't last as long as they fear. They will begin again because there cannot be another option.
This is the life.
-a
If only teenage grandkids would listen and apply these wonderful tips.
ReplyDeleteVery nice, insightful piece, Allison. You are so right, too. We MUST begin again. Susan
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda and Susan!
ReplyDeleteAllison--I read your post on the robin. What a touching story. I think certain people and certain animals come into our lives for a reason...
ReplyDelete