I am writing today with nothing in particular to share other than a really beautiful morning of gratitude that I experienced.
I share these noticings simply because connecting with people whom I love is my most favorite thing. Sometimes, a few of you will reply to these emails and share little glimmers of your life, and to me, that is everything. Life is not made up of the big momentous occasions, but of the small little glimmers that could go unnoticed.
But because we are us, they don’t.
This morning, I watched my youngest daughter walk out the door to her final day of her summer job. Certainly not a huge life milestone, but this morning felt, I don’t know, extra.
Sometimes you catch a glimpse of your kid or someone that you really love or your pet or a view and your breath is just taken away. That’s what happened.
She and the moment took my breath away.
As I watched the gate close behind her, I thought of all the little moments that led us to now from when she was just a teeny little baby through all of the years and countless moments that have landed her so poised and in her skin and incredible. She moves through the world with a joy and confidence that I know is the sum of a million moments of choice, courage, and honest self reflection. She and her sister are the most beautiful visions of love to me. I truly hope every mother sees her kid this way. I think we all do. What a blessing of the highest order.
To love and to be loved is everything. It’s the whole point, I think. Hard stop. I know we all know this, but some days it feels more profound and more clear than others.
My meandering brain then went onto remembering the passing of the beautiful bald eagle named Jackie, whom many of us have been watching on social media for the last couple of years as she tended to the eggs of her babies, their nest, watching them grow, and eventually fly off. Somehow, we all felt connected to her and were rooting for her and her family. Moving on from this life is inevitable for all of us, and I was feeling grateful in that moment for this eagle who unknowingly shared so much joy with us. I wish her well on her next journey.
Inspired by Jackie, the mother eagle, I wanted to send today’s love note to you all and share a little joy. I think about the love and care I put into these newsletters sometimes. I am intentional about all of my words and my feelings. Nobody pays me to write these newsletters. The time spent writing does not put any money in my bank, but feeling connection with you all quite simply makes my life better. So thank you.
The nest metaphor holds so true in raising kids. The whole point is for them to leave, and I feel so proud as summer wanes and my girls are ready to head back to their lives that have nothing to do with me and everything to do with their vision of their future.
I’ve written about this before. Their leaving the nest is a beautiful culmination of one era of our lives, but clearly not the last. The nest may change or move (as ours has in the last couple of years), but I will forever tend to it, so there is always a safe place to return. A place where they know unequivocally that they are so incredibly loved and accepted.
So, if you’re still here, I love you.
Have a beautiful day.
Jocelyn