Published March 13, 2025
“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.” – C.S. Lewis
For those who have had some time to heal after the loss of a loved one, aren’t you curious how your life will play out? Even a little bit??
Memorable vacations. Nights out with good friends. Meeting new friends. A successful career. Watching your kids blossom into adulthood. Seeing your kids get married and start families of their own. (And maybe, just maybe you’ll start dating again. But only when you are ready.)
Yes, many wonderful and incredible times are ahead of you. An extraordinary life is attainable.
Time is going by regardless if we want it to or not. Our children will grow up, neighbors will move away, or our careers could change but the constant in all of this is that time will continue ticking by. You and I have already lost so much. I don’t want to lose any more of my life. I know you feel the same.
We cannot live in the past. What good is that going to do? Nothing is ever going to bring them back. No amount of worrying is ever going to change the situation. It’s harsh, but we must accept it.
In no way is this disrespecting the death of our loved ones. They will always be a part of us. They have helped shape who we are today, and they will forever be in our hearts.
The initial shock causes us to worry ourselves sick. What about the kids? How can I do this alone? What about the finances? This is completely understandable. After all, we are human.
But after things settle, maybe a year goes by, and the hardship softens. Our minds start to wander.
It could be that our minds go towards the negative. My life will never be as good as it was. It’s downhill from here. Why do we tend to think of the worst possible outcomes?
Or we could feel stuck in the mundane daily tasks of life. My life is dull and boring. I do the same thing, day in and day out. I am living in a plateau.
But you know what? A plateau can be a launching pad! What if we shift the mindset? The mind can be a very powerful asset, or it can also work against us. DON’T LET IT!
Having a great life before, doesn’t it give you hope that you can have it again? Why not think that the best days are ahead rather than behind us? I believe our loved ones really want this for us.
There are people out there who will become great friends that you haven’t met yet! There are people who will love you that you don’t know yet! What about personal milestones and achievements you’ll hit? You deserve to experience it all!
At times, I can’t help but be curious about how my life will play out. I bet some of you are curious too.
We must take control of our lives and not wait for others to come rescue us. This includes filling up our own social calendars. Make the calls, invite friends over, sign up for that class. If we want change, we can’t expect change by just sitting around. It’s no one else’s responsibility but our own.
It’s time to take care of ourselves. For so many years, we’ve been taking care of children, aging parents, or an ill spouse. Always remember that self-care is not selfish. Make exercise a priority. Eat a healthy diet. Get sufficient sleep. Practice meditation. You get the point.
By feeling our best, getting out and doing things, and realizing the little joys in each day, we will gradually see that we have this ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL LIFE to live! We have amazing days ahead of us! Will there be some bad days? Yes. Everyone has bad days. Will there be mediocre days? Sure, that is a part of life. We need to embrace it all.
Let’s put ourselves into belief instead of worry. Let’s redefine the second part of our lives. Let’s make our loved ones proud. Let’s write an extraordinary story!
I sincerely want this for you. So….do you have a story to share? Email me at inquiry@sincerelyjulie.com or find me on Instagram @sincerelyjulie_joyful_living.