Never Be Afraid to Explore Your World

There is a whole wide world out there for us to explore.

I don’t necessarily mean we need to travel to the other side of the world to begin your exploration. I love finding local trails and parks to wander around, lost in thought. I love visiting local bars and discovering new musicians who are following their dreams despite whatever holds the rest of us back. I love strolling the beach, listening to the waves and watching the birds do what birds do, feeling part of something so much bigger than myself.

After my divorce I began exploring all that Florida has to offer. In the beginning I felt guilty when I started to truly enjoy my time without my kids. I thought that being happy without them somehow made me a bad mother. I feared that I was losing part of myself.

But I wasn’t.

Instead I’ve discovered more and more layers of myself. I encountered a multitude of ways to enjoy life that I never thought would be part of mine. I realized how much more there is to uncover.

I’ve learned that my girls benefit when I take care of myself. I’m happier than I’ve ever been.

I’ve learned that they understand how to fully engage in life. Because I am committed to living life to the fullest.

I’ve learned that my kids meet interesting people as I bring more people into my life who are living the kind of life I want to be living.

I’ve learned that they gain confidence in themselves as I gain confidence in myself.

I’ve learned that these girls learn from my example, that they will develop a love for exploring life, and that they will feel free to explore life because they see that I am doing so.

I did not lose a piece of myself when I stopped being singly focused on being the mother I thought I was. I gained more depth and learned more that I can share with them as they grow older. And I will continue to grow, as I continue to explore.

This post is in response to the daily writing prompt Explore

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