Eight Windows

Inspired again by my dear friend Karen Pery, she has invited her readers to think about their lives. If given the opportunity to have glimpses of your life flash before your eyes, what would you see? She describes 8 windows, from the outside looking into your soul. I tried hard to think about things that were all nice and fluffy. But, honestly, not all my pivotal moments were great. Some yes, but not all. The moments that changed my life, the moments that would flash before my eyes if I was perhaps faced with death? Here is what I would see:

  1. Riding my big wheel on the tennis courts when I was 5 years old. The plastic streamers, my royal blue tennies, red and white tube top and dove shorts. No cares in the world. 
  2. 20 years old, walking into the recovery room where my dad had just had quadruple bypass surgery. Seeing his scars, seeing him hooked up to machines was too much. I walked out. 
  3. Standing in Barnes and Noble. I called my then-husband and the other woman answered. I finally knew for sure. It was over. Walking out and into the parking lot I had my first out-of-body experience. 
  4. The moment Jason opened the door the first time we met. We had been talking for weeks on the phone, and I promised myself I would have no expectations when I met him in person. The look of such curiosity on his face was evident. My first thought that I remember so clearly was, "Oh shit. He's cute. I'm in trouble." 
  5. My son's birth. Terrified, laying on the surgery table, smelling my burning skin as I was cut open to have him removed from my body. Thinking, "Shouldn't I be happy right now?" And feeling like the worst new mother ever for being furious about the way he was coming into the world. 
  6. On my son's first birthday, he woke up from a nap. I got him out of bed and sat down to rock him. He fell back asleep in my arms and I memorized his smell: Baby sweat and sunscreen. It was delicious. 
  7. About 30 seconds after my daughter was born, I broke down in tears. Fighting with my obstetrician about how I was going to give birth to her was more than I could handle. I was so happy that she was here, that she was in my arms, that she was healthy and that she was born the way I thought she deserved to be born. 
  8. Sitting at my dining room table with my beloved MacBook, writing any post of this blog. Crying, typing the words of the story of my past. Realizing how sad I was at times. And how I used to cope. The girl I was. The woman I've become. And the vulnerability of letting everyone see it. 

I feel like I should say something inspiring right now but I don't have it in me. 

What would you see through your windows? 

7 comments:

VoiceinRecovery said...

This is a really powerful tool to use when needing to reflect and process the progress we have made in life. Amazing to look back and realize who we are now and how our past doesnt define us, but it is part of the creation of who we are now.

Unknown said...

Wow, what powerful, fantastic moments.

Andrea said...

@Kendra- Yes, I agree. I've done some more work on my "past self" today actually. Good stuff.

@Fitsmi- Thank you :)

@Karen- Well, you inspired the post! Your compliments always make me smile. A big, cheesy one!

Pigtail Pals Melissa Wardy said...

Beautiful, as are you. Even the painful memories. They created the strength we see in your face and hear in your voice.

XOXO - Melissa

Unknown said...

Number 8 - I'm so glad you've shared your story. Thank you for keeping going even if things have been hard to right - your blog is inspiring and an awesome reminder that we can overcome anything and be happy in ourselves. Thank you for letting yourself be vulnerable to the world - we appreciate it!

(You don't need to add anything inspiring at the end; the post was inspiring as it was)

Unknown said...

Argh, I meant "to write"!!

Andrea said...

@Melissa- I'm grateful for everything; even the shitty stuff.

@Natasha- Thanks so much for the comment! It's messages like those that keep me writing :)