I have navigated some rocky, winding roads, as we all do. I’m still studying the map. Loss, grief, and trauma have all had a part in my story and because life is life, I’m sure there will be more of those chapters to come. We’ve all had them. Have you ever felt stuck in this part of your story?
Have you ever felt stuck in this part of your story?
My friend Karissa shared with me an experience she had while visiting her family’s cabin over Labor Day weekend. Imagine this: a cabin cluttered with things no longer in use, like booster seats and expired canned goods. The walls need washing, furniture needs dusting and covering every inch of the floor is extremely worn, green, shag carpet. Carpet in a bathroom never feels great, right? It was all wrong, but since it wasn’t exclusively her cabin, Karissa felt she could never make changes. In reality, no one really took ownership of the space, and so the green shag stayed.
On Labor Day, Karissa decided she’d had enough. A small leak in the bathroom created enough of a mess, she felt justified to take action. We all know the urge to pull back the corner of the bathroom carpet. And so she did.
We all know the urge to pull back the corner of the bathroom carpet.
We are all going to be shocked, like she was, to discover gorgeous tile and hardwood under the ruined shag. Karissa was ecstatic as she rushed around the entire space pulling back disintegrating corners, only to find the same exquisite hardwood everywhere!
It is going to take some focused effort to fully reveal the strength and beauty in those floors, but it is there. It has always been there.
It has always been there.
Life brings us opportunities. Opportunities to make change. Sometimes the tipping point comes from a new mess, a new disaster that gives us the push we need to use our voice and say out loud:
I am going to figure this out.
I am going to get rid of these expired canned goods.
To hell with green shag carpet!
To hell with green shag carpet!
Karissa began cleaning the cabin, ridding it of all the clutter and trash. By the end of the day, the cabin, which they had been visiting for years, felt completely different and it all started with a mess.
Over and over again I am being taught that out of my messes, I find my strength.
Out of the rubble, I discover my courage to pull back a layer revealing much more than what was on the surface.
And sometimes, it takes a mess to get us motivated to dig down for what has always been there.
We are strong. Here, in this space, we gain tools.
I’m so glad we are here together.
And sometimes, it takes a mess to get us motivated to dig down for what has always been there.