Some of my most life enriching insights have resulted from my conversations with my best friend, my daughter. Just the other day we were talking about common mistakes people make.  I was sharing with her that if there were only three things I could tell my children about life, those three things would be:

1. We cannot ever predict the future (even though we may flatter ourselves into believing we can and/or how very desperately we want to believe that we can;)
2. That which is meant to be will come to pass whether or not we know it, fight it or choose not to believe it;
3. Everything happens for a reason i.e. there are no accidents!

It had been at this point in our conversation that my daughter had asked me whether or not one of the things I would share is the saying that “change is inevitable.”  I’d answered her question with, “yes,” and explained that I’ve been repeatedly reminded throughout my life that the one sure thing in life IS change.

I shared with her the many times (when I’d been young) when I’d believed that I had my whole life perfectly mapped out.  For example, my first husband (my children’s father) was going to be my husband forever. We would grow old with each other and spend our last years sitting side-by-side in our rocking chairs enjoying each new sunrise together.  (Yes, I was quite the romantic.) However, several years later, it became necessary for us to go our separate ways. Although there were moments when I missed him intensely, at no time did I ever seriously regret my decision to divorce. Heart-wrenching? Oh yes.  But far too much water had washed over the dam to deny the reality of our situation. It was time to say “good-bye” and good-byes are never easy.  What I was about to learn was that the most painful part of all, was saying “good-bye” to my DREAMS for our life together. Ten years later I came to understand so many things about good-byes and about moving forward with my life. But then, isn’t hindsight always 20-20?

In retrospect, there’ve been several times during my fifty-eight years when I’ve found it necessary to chart a new course for my life. These situations have not always arrived at the best possible times, however. By the very virtue of that fact, little did I realize, they were most necessary, indeed. Once upon a time, I viewed those times as “end of my world” times. Quite the contrary, they turned out to be new beginnings of many new adventures, some good, some not so good and some great! I was to learn that there is undeniable truth in the saying, “Before a new door can open, an old one must close.”

The important thing today, is that every one of those experiences make up the sum total of the mature, loving woman I am today. It’s funny you know, at age fifty eight, I’m pleasantly surprised (if not a bit shocked) at how all of the situations that used to cost me many a good nights sleep, hardly phase me at all anymore.  Why?  I think because years of experience have taught me that everything really does happen for a reason and that whatever it is that is happening, it will eventually pass!  In fact, I’ve been marveling at how the only things that really matter to me anymore are family, life and death! I’ve come to realize that whatever happens in between is really just a mere incidental! Yes, I’m beginning to believe that true wisdom may, in fact, truly come with age!