Count Your Blessings

“It happened in New York, April 10th, nineteen years ago. Even my hand balks at the date. I had to push to write it down, just to keep the pen moving on the paper. It used to be a perfectly ordinary day, but now it sticks up on the calendar like a rusty nail.” Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch

Losing a mother at any age or stage of life is difficult. I talked to a friend who recently lost her 98 year old mother. She said, “She had lived a full life, we knew we were losing her but after she died, it was still a shock, still difficult.” As sad as it is, having a mother much of your life is surely a gift…as my friend acknowledged.

Allie, a young woman I interviewed for my book, is losing her mother to early onset Alzheimer’s. Her mother was 47 when she was diagnosed, Allie was 11, her sister was 9. Eight years later, Allie’s mother is in memory care and has lost many functions. I’m happy to say that Allie, after spending her high school years as a part time care giver, is now a thriving, well adjusted college student. But… to gradually lose a mother throughout your adolescence and early adulthood is a cruel blow. It makes me want to “count my blessings.”

Affirmation: I am emotionally strong.

Coaching questions: What blessings haven’t you counted lately? Take a moment right now and name five.