A Mother's Journey

First, let me wish all of you a Happy Mother’s Day.

This holiday is more than a day of flowers, cards, and breakfast in bed. It is also a time where we often reflect on the past. Usually on the happy times we've had with our children. Many of you know I have one child. She is twenty years old and graduating from college in four days. From the moment she was born, I knew my life would never be the same. It wasn’t just the sleepless nights or the dark circles beneath my eyes that told me life as I knew it was over. From that day on, I worried about every decision I made. Luckily, she turned out to be a good person and I didn’t do anything that will land us on Oprah. With her graduation quickly approaching, I suddenly realized that I wasn’t the only one leading by example. Her youthful exuberance reminded me of lessons I had forgotten. Today I want to share those with you.

*We are never too old to dream. My daughter and her friends feel a bit overwhelmed by the choices they have to make about their futures, but they are also excited about the possibilities. All of us should get in touch with our dreams and find a way to fulfill them to some capacity. As writers, we often dream of hitting the big time, but sometimes feel the pressures of the industry. Do you remember the excitement of dreaming big? Ask yourself what you could do to help get in touch with those feelings and work towards building your career in a way that allows you to enjoy the journey. Regardless of whether or not we hit The New York Times, there are many rewarding experiences that come from writing a book. We need to enjoy them and remember they are part of the dream too.

*Take time to have fun with friends. Last summer, I listened to my daughter’s stories. They revolved around her boyfriend and her friends. I realized I had spent too much time working and didn’t have enough balance. This year, I added walking with writing friends to my schedule and recently, even started going out with my friends more often. We have so much fun joking around that I sometimes feel like I’m back in college. Call a friend and schedule a play date.

*Put passion back into your life. My daughter is bigger than life. When she was young, a colleague of mine said she couldn’t wait to see her on the big screen. As a middle-aged mother and teacher, I had sometimes looked back on my youth and cringed at my wild times, but I remembered feeling alive back then. Of course, I don’t have any desire to relive the past, but with age comes wisdom and I know there are many ways to put passion back into my life. We can all enjoy the beauty around us, watch children play, connect with others, tell someone you love them, and if you have a special someone – add a little romance; put the spark back into your relationship… You are all grown-ups so I don’t need to fill in the blanks for you. The point is to live your life to the fullest. Take the time to ask yourself what you can do to make your life more enjoyable without doing anything rash. You don’t need mid-life crises to live a life full of passion; simply live your life with feeling.

Until next time,
Happy Writing,
Tina LaVon