When you become a widow everything familiar is suddenly lost. The rituals and routines of your old life no longer mark the way. As a widowed person you are forced to sail into uncharted waters. It is incredibly daunting. But, with time, you get used to it. And, you can even begin to flourish in the open water.

I am different because he died. I am changed in some significant ways because of the devastation that I am living through; but, the price I paid for this growth is too steep. No gain will ever be worth what I’ve lost. But, there is no changing it. Mike has died. Wishing it was different does nothing to help me and it does not undo his death. I have to stay the course and be grateful for the good things that I still have in my life.

 

In a very real way, Mike’s death has brought me closest to my true self. His death is leading me to some place I need to go.

For a long time I believed that I was drifting aimlessly. I assumed that I was lost, so I desperately searched for direction. I was tirelessly drafting plans in my mind because I thought I had to “fix” my life. I felt compelled to correct what had been wronged. But, now I know that all my efforts were not necessary.

There is a plan at work here; and, in order for this plan to be successful, I am not required to “fix” or do anything. In fact, the best thing that I can do is step aside and let the wind blow me to where I belong.

Before I realized all this, I was my biggest obstacle. I was getting in my own way. The truth is, I do not need to carefully map out my own journey. And neither do you. Everything is charted out for us already.

I no longer feel the need to control the direction of my sails. And, I have stopped flailing in the water because I trust that something bigger than me is at work. I believe that my best interests are being served. I do not need to intervene because I sense that everything will work out as it is meant to.   With trust, in something bigger than me, I am going to simply let myself be adrift.  And, this is far from simple.  It is complicated, but it is right.   It is what is required of me.

With time, I have grown confident that I do not need to repeatedly adjust my sails.  Less is more.  My job is just to let the winds blow me where I am intended to be.  I have faith that I will be okay. I believe this for all of us.

~ Staci Sulin