I just came back from my trip to Iceland and Amsterdam and wanted to share my greatest gift that I think you could benefit from. My mom wanted to take my 11 year old daughter to Europe this Summer. She stays in Amsterdam with her boyfriend every summer so she needed someone to fly back with my daughter. Guess who volunteered? I told you previously I put travel to Europe on my bucket list for 2016, but had no idea how it would happen. Well, not only did I get my trip but it was greater than I could have imagined.
Here’s why…
My daughter is the child who is a lot like me and so we butt heads. Since she was 2, I knew I had my hands full with this one and I feared her teenage years. She is very stubborn and strong willed just like her mama. 🙂 Over the years, I have learned what works and what doesn’t when our personalities clash. How I learned this was by first noticing what was occurring and then realizing she is just my mirror. The things I could not tolerate in her were things I couldn’t tolerate in myself.
Maybe you have a relationship like this too? I am a firm believer that our relationships are here to teach us about ourselves if we choose to pay attention.
So back to my trip and how this all relates. I was fortunate to spend a week sharing a bedroom with my daughter. We really bonded. Getting away from our normal routine and environment and going on an adventure together, did wonders for us. We stayed up late chatting, walked the streets of Amsterdam hand in hand and snuggled in bed together feeling an undeniable closeness that we often don’t get to experience at home. It was magical for both of us.
I know this trip was the beginning of a new chapter for my daughter and I. We have established a new bond that I feel will take us into her teenage years with a foundation of connectedness and communication. I know it won’t all be easy and I’m sure I’ll be writing about some of my challenges, but for now my heart is full and I am grateful.
I invite you to look at some of your most challenging relationships and see what is being mirrored back to you and where there is opportunity for you to grow. What is it you are having a hard time tolerating in another? What might you learn about yourself? It takes a lot of courage to point the finger back at yourself and admit something needs to change in you. Our ego wants to blame others and justify our own behaviors. Do the difficult thing because it is the right thing and totally worth it.
My wish for you is that you get some kind of vacation this summer to get out of the rut and refresh your spirit! It’s so important to get out of our usual environment and change things up. That’s when the magic happens!
As always, feel free to share your comments, questions and suggestions with me. I love hearing from you. Makes me feel like someone is actually reading my stuff! 😉 Plus, two minds are better than one and we can create some amazing new possibilities together. Feel free to email me at [email protected] and let’s chat!
Talk soon,
Justine
