As my 48th birthday approached, I knew that something different was needed. My life was not quite what I wanted. While self-employment had improved my life a great deal, I did not know where my work ended and my actual life began. A few days at a local Air B N B with a garden worked for me. My mornings were spent in the garden journaling as Mother Nature said hello. Birds, bees, butterflies, and even a traffic stopping peacock all made an appearance during my stay. However it was the Sunday evening womens’ circle that took healing to another level.
A fire pit was created for us. It was not long before I was bellydancing as I have been known to do in the past. We released our fears into the fire after writing them down. It was quite a satisfying feeling to watch the paper burn in the flames. We sat and talked about our lives, fears, loves, and just how it is being a black woman in a world that would rather discard us. The sisterhood was felt and the joy was real.
My time away helped me to discover what I want for my personal life. Which ladies make up my immediate tribe? Whom am I calling just to say hey? Am I dating? Why or why not? Are there any prospects? Hobbies, what are they? Journaling in that garden brought me the clarity that I needed. Time away from my normal routine restored me in a way that words can’t describe. It gave me a refreshed perspective on how I want to conduct my life as 48 begins.