Aloha! We’re on our way…
By: Karen Pattock
At the time that this email is being sent to you Mike and I will be on a plane heading to Hawaii. It’s a trip that has been in the making for exactly 15 years. You see, we were married there 15 years ago and told ourselves that we would go back every year to celebrate our anniversary. This is the first year that we are keeping that promise and we are very excited.
Yes, it was 15 years ago I boarded a plane with Mike as a single woman and came back married to my very best friend. It’s interesting when I think about it because I was a very different woman back then. I have changed so much and my level of confidence has grown enormously over the last 15 years.
Doesn’t it seem that milestones in a person’s life always brings about the opportunity to reminisce? Recently I have found myself spending time thinking about the past 15 years of my life and have realized how much I have grown.
I was hoping I could steal you away for just a moment so that I could take you on a journey back to the place I was 15 years ago when I was on my way to Hawaii to be married.
You may not know that my marriage to my husband is my second marriage. Although I knew that I was ready for this marriage, I also knew that I still had unhealed wounds from my first marriage.
The saying, “Time heals all wounds” is only four words but the power of those four words is absolutely amazing. How do I know that for sure? Well, I recently ran into my ex-husband at a funeral and came face-to-face with him after many, many years.
I had suspected that he and his wife would be there but I hadn’t expected he would be the first person I would see when I rounded the corner. It was then, with a very kind smile on his face, that he stuck out his hand and shook mine. It was in that moment that I had confirmation that I was completely healed from the scars of our divorce.
I no longer felt anger, resentment or anxiety. I only felt compassion for a person that I had spent 17 years of my life with. It was also in that moment that I realized that I am the person I am today because of what I went through in that divorce. In a roundabout way I have him to thank for making me a much stronger woman, not only in my personal life but also as a business leader.
If that chance encounter a couple of months ago wasn’t enough, in a twist of fate that could only be designed by God, I recently found out that I am not the only one going to Hawaii on January 18th. Imagine my surprise when my son told me that his dad, (my ex-husband), is also going to Hawaii on that day. We’ll be leaving from the same airport.
The chances of us scheduling this trip on the same day of the same year is quite unbelievable don’t you think? I believe it is the hand of God, again, giving me the opportunity to see how far I’ve come, how much I’ve grown, and how much healing has actually been done!
If you find yourself working through a troubling time, have faith when I say, time heals all wounds. I am living proof!
Here are three tips that I’ve identified that proven helpful in my healing process.
Tip #1 – Don’t hold onto anger and resentment toward another person. Let it go. It’s only hurting you, not them.
Tip #2 – While you’re healing don’t be hard on yourself. It takes time to heal wounds. Just give yourself permission to move forward at a pace that feels comfortable to you.
Tip #3 – Occasionally take stock in how far you’ve come. Notice how much healing has been done. Recognize that you are growing through your journey and that’s a really good thing.
This trip is a dream come true for my husband and I and we are really looking forward to it. I will be sharing lots of pictures and stories of our vacation with you on my Facebook page over the next 10 days. Be sure to visit me at http://www.facebook.com/KarenPattockBiz.
With love,
Karen Pattock
