Last week, we received the decision that the school year was officially over.

“Congratulations on finishing high school!” I said to my senior Evan Amadeus later that day, trying to keep it light.

“I still have my AP tests, so technically I’m not done,” he said.

There was that “holding on to hope” tone in his voice. For as long as he was still attached to school, it wasn’t over for him. The physical doors of the school building might be closed, but he wasn’t ready to just walk away from the last four years without a proper goodbye and a heart-warming send-off.

After all, these are an important four years of a person’s life as they grow from a child into a young adult. They deserve to be celebrated.

Once we knew the prom, the graduation ceremony and the band banquet were going to be cancelled, we allowed ourselves to be sad about it.

I was extra disappointed because I had built big expectations for it. I saw the big cap-and-gown ceremony as a perfect way to acknowledge Evan’s hard work, academic success and, most importantly, his ability to face challenges and overcame them with hope, joy, and love.

But once I was done with feeling sadness and disappointment (those pass through fast if you let them), I knew I’d just have to be a little bit more creative and come up with different ways to celebrate.

I had to let go of my vision of what I was really looking forward to in order to begin to see new possibilities.

I thought of that from a different perspective one day, as I sat in my backyard and watched our new puppy Luna Daisy play in the grass.

It’s amazing how we miss out on good stuff in life when we rigidly hold visions of what we want.

We’ve been looking for the right puppy for our family for several years. I knew I wanted a small hypoallergenic dog that I could fit into a purse and travel with.

“Just be patient. You’ll know when the right puppy will find you,” said a friend of mine who owned a Bichon Frise (a breed I thought I wanted).

But when I saw Luna Daisy at my next-door neighbor’s house, I knew.

She wasn’t exactly what I expected or imagined. She is a standard size F1B Golden Doodle with a shiny black fur, a small white spot on her chest and one on her hind right paw. She is hypoallergenic, but she’s never going to fit into a purse. What have I done? LOL

But she came to us – I have no doubt about that. She is the gift we have been waiting for and has already brought us so much joy!

I could, of course, dig my heels in and pout and stay stuck in thinking “she is not the puppy I had in mind”. Or, “Evan’s graduation is ruined”. You know, the feelings we feel when it rains on vacations or when kids get sick during holidays, or when a pandemic ruins the economy…

Maybe Luna Daisy is better than the puppy I wanted.

And maybe Evan’s graduation ceremony (as different as it may be) will be a lot less stressful because of the current circumstances.

When we let go of our one vision, we allow something Divine to bring us even richer, deeper experiences. And that brings us awe, and gratitude, and joy, and peace, and happiness, and growth, and hope, and love.

“But what happens when the outcome is not beautiful and joyful? What if it is full of loss and pain and hardship?” I asked my therapist in our online session this past week.

“What do you think happens?”, she asked back.

“We allow something Divine to bring us even richer and deeper experiences… And that brings us awe, and gratitude, and joy, and peace, and happiness, and growth, and hope, and love…” I replied a bit quieter.

(She got me! Haha)

🙂

So, do you have a Luna Daisy in your life? Someone who wasn’t what you thought you wanted, but turned out to be even better? Do you have a cancelled event that you grieve over, but are excited about different and new possibilities?

How can you change your perspective from

‘nothing is going my way’ to

‘all that is coming my way brings me opportunities to

grow, heal and love’?

As you ponder this weekend, here is a song (in Croatian) for you. There are English subtitles, so just make sure you turn the cc on!

Tatiana “Tajci” Cameron is an award-winning music artist, published author, inspirational speaker, and certified transformational and spiritual life coach.

She has many passions and is dedicated to helping others while also creating an enriched life for herself and her three sons. When Tajci is not on the road performing gigs, she volunteers with local organizations dear to her heart, spends time with loved ones (often involving music!), and collaborates with other artists to bring creative projects to life.

Tajci’s most recent projects include a meditation CD, an annual retreat & sea cruise in Croatia (that she organizes and hosts), and a multimedia CD/book (Un)Broken: Songs My Father Taught Me.

I so look forward to the Saturday emails and can’t wait to get to my inbox to read them! The inspiration, music, positivity, and faith….I need all of this so badly on some days. Thank you so much!

Carol

Reader

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