…to Reflect on Her Life

We all have them.  Those points in your life where you are in the right place at the right time, meet that certain person who changes your life, enter a situation that winds up being a crossroads, etc.  Yes, we all have them, but do we recognize them?

I have been fortunate throughout my life to notice them.  Sometimes while in the middle of them and sometimes afterward.  From the time that I was very young, I can remember listening to my mom tell me things that she learned from her experiences and I remembered them, trying to not duplicate them.  I know that this is unusual – especially for a teenage girl – but I did it.

There are quite a few times that stick out in my mind as being life-altering and I will share them in time.  Right now, though, the one that comes to mind happened when my life fell apart.

My husband of over 15 years walked out on our life.  We had been planning to move to another state and I had been winding down my career (by working part-time) in preparation for the move.  We had decided I wouldn’t work any more after the move.  I had come to terms with the fact that we were never going to have children.

I immediately had to find a place to live, a job to support myself, and figure out this entire “being single” thing.  I applied for a bunch of jobs and found one.  I worked in an office with 4 other women.  At the time, I didn’t put it together but I soon realized that I was put with them for a MAJOR reason.  One had a long-term marriage; one was divorced and dating; one was divorced and not dating; and the last was divorced and in a relationship.  I had examples of everything right there in front of me.

I knew that I wanted to date but I had no intention of getting serious for quite a while (a future blog because it didn’t work out that way).  When I was ready, the one in a relationship helped me get signed up on Match.com.  That worked out well (eventually, but those bad dates are another blog!) because I met my Mr. Right, we got married, and had a daughter.  We will celebrate our 16th anniversary this year.

The non-dating co-worker became my best friend.  She is there whenever I need her even though we live far apart now.

One of the co-workers was raised by her step-mother and gave me excellent advice when I married my husband and joined forces with him in raising his daughters.

These women will never know how much their life experiences, friendship, and guidance helped me through this period of my life.

Thank you, ladies, for all that you have done for me and others who have crossed your path. 

You never really know whose life you touch, how you touch it, or why.  That is the lesson for us all.