Aging with Grace

If we can be thankful for what we receive, we should be thankful for what we escape.

Native American Quote

Reading this quote made me think of Shakespeare’s play, All’s Well That Ends Well. Sometimes, in the midst of difficulty, we can only see what is in front of us. When we look back we realize how fortunate we were our dreams didn’t turn out as we wanted. I recall a time in my life when my plan not working out turned out to be a much better ending than I could have imagined.

Several years ago, my husband and I made a big decision to leave our home and move to another state. He to start a new job and me to begin a business venture I was excited about. We left everything. It quickly became apparent my dream was turning into a nightmare. Very little worked out the way I hoped it would. Our beautiful new home did not make up for the fact that I hated were we lived. It was like I had landed in a place I had no point of reference to. It was so far removed from who I was and what I knew, I couldn’t get my bearings. Neither my husband’s job or my plans for a business worked out the way we’d hoped. I missed everyone and everything we had left behind. What had I done? I was the one that pushed this move. It was not like me to make a decision without considering the pros and cons. I am not a spur of the moment person. No matter, here we were and now what?

Now what, turned out to be making the sacrifices we had to make to get back home. We leased out our house, sold everything we didn’t need, rented a U-haul and headed back to where our journey had begun. This time, we hoped, with a happier ending. We were able to find new jobs and moved into an apartment in the same neighborhood where we, later, bought our condo.

Twenty-one years after, we still live in that same neighborhood. I can’t imagine a place I would rather be. This charming community, in the midst of an historic district, with wide boulevards, many parks and it’s own little shopping center, all within walking distance, is perfect. Our son lives only a short distance away. Added to that, we both found jobs were we stayed for many years. In my case, my new career gave me the opportunity to travel to gorgeous, extravagant, locations I might never have experienced.

Would all of this have happened if we hadn’t have made that disastrous move all those years ago? Maybe, I don’t know. I do know, as painful as it was, I would do it all over again if it meant I would end up where I am now and it makes me even more grateful for what I have.