I never cease to be amazed at how profound our surroundings effect us or what they can cause. I knew when these problems surfaced in my house, some ENERGY was being stirred up, just didn't realize the extent of it. After five full weeks of intense and deep digging to level the ground I was curious to see what would eventually SURFACE. I somehow thought all the good things would come to light but I realized something important that I should have already known: You need to fully let go of the OLD in order to bring in the NEW.
Actually, I should have suspected something when an old friend with whom I had a misunderstanding emailed me the night before I was to leave on vacation....after almost 2 1/2 years. The very night I arrived home and found out about the problems going on here with the basement leak, the mold contamination and all I had to do, it was overwhelming. One thing that kept coming to me through all this was that things NEEDED to surface in my life, that as changes were occurring (in a BIG way), I had to come to terms with old and unresolved issues.
Luckily my friend and I were able to reconnect and if anything, perhaps the misunderstanding made our friendship stronger. I decided to reach out to someone else but found that she was holding on to the negativity. I then got a call from another former friend, this one very sad. I had to let that friendship go after doing everything I possibly could to help her. We all choose our own paths in life and after two hours that evening and two YEARS prior to that call, of trying to talk to her to convince her to get some badly needed help and trying to console her over her issues, she started to scream; it was time for me to go, knowing I had done my best.
Then some very good things started to come up as well---interestingly enough, a GROUNDBREAKING for a new construction (and more digging :) and more people started coming up, except that the spin has been positive. Old and new friends and clients are coming into my life; what do I equate that to? All of the old unexpectedly going, getting through the issues I needed to resolve finally and MOVING ON. They are coming up for my daughter as well, the old first and the new (and positive) things and we can see the parallels.
I knew these issues with my home would be a learning lesson and I've sure gotten one in ways I never expected! Right now with the exterior of my home taken care of and some of the REBUILDING soon to start, I am looking forward to whatever is in store. They say that everything happens for a reason and I have to agree. Isn't it always through the difficult lessons that we learn the most?
*And Yes, I'm getting to the end of my New York City post :)
CAROLE: Your story reminded me of a post that I plan on writing in the future about friendships. In true Long Island fashion, I'm going to share my thoughts by giving you the song lyric of a perhaps the greatest musical talent that Long Island has ever produced - Billy Joel. This quote was found under many pictures in my yearbook, and is probably more fitting right now than it was back then.
"So many faces in and out of my life, some will last, some will just be now and then. Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes, I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again."
Hi Carole !
I'm so happy for you that things are improving for the better now and you feel a change in the air...it's amazing how things work, isn't it?
Have you ever noticed how so much of what we write on our blogs are analogies for things going on in our lives and on AR itself? And you're so right....we learn from the walls, not from the doorways.
(((-:
Jo
Morning Carole,
Nice blog. I am glad to hear things with the house are coming along well. It is too bad you had to let go of your friendship but you have to do what is best for you, you did all you could so walk away with that positive note. You are right, "through the most difficult lessons we learn the most" and those lessons seem to stay with us for life.
The really great thing will be installing the new and more workable solutions. I am very glad you figured the problem with your house in regard to your health! It really is funny how sometimes we have to go away to learn some things. I've experienced that. Must be an energy and/or consciouness shift or something that allows new awareness.
Look what you created!
Hello Carole...
I can almost feel the anticipation of what will come next in your words! Something wonderous I bet!
It is wonderful that your life in returning to normal but it is even better than you found meaning and resolution from this experience. You are so right there is a life lesson in everything that happens--but some people never see it or learn from it. That is where the power is.
Carole I have a really hard time letting go, but you're right that sometimes you just have to do it. And when you make more space in your life, more good things can appear.
I hope you were able to enjoy your vacation after all of that!
Adam, Billy Joel was amazing when he started and is still the same to me. (He's at all the antique car shows out East if you ever want to meet him :) He wrote the best lyrics and some beautiful music, I've seen him many times in concert. And yes, I had to say goodbye, it wasn't easy but I had no choice.
Jo, I knew it meant change in a big way and really should have realized that old issues have to be resolved before the new, good energy can enter. And although some of it is hurtful, it's time to finally resolve it one way or another.
Diane, I think everyone is going through shifts right now. I had some quotes from an online article and if I find it, I'll put it up. Things we must go through to get to the GOOD.
Trace, thank you, hopefully those lessons always stay with us or we're "doomed" to repeat them. I try to learn the first time!
Kathy, I am so excited to see what comes of all this. And I look back at all I accomplished in 5 weeks considering the damage. That in itself is unbelievable.
Deborah,I may have well done this to myself unconsciously....I believe we get ourselves into all kinds of trouble! And somehow end up exactly where we are supposed to.
Sally, My thoughts exactly. When I thought about that I wanted the best, speediest resolution I put my energy into that---and I think it worked! I had the Environmentalist back today and need to wait for the results (I'd tell you to keep your fingers crossed buy you've already sustained serious blogging injuries :)
Robert, Thank you. I have to say you have the most beautiful pictures I've seen on AR, they are breathtaking.
Teri, That was so nice and honestly, it was like I saw her yesterday! I will always try to correct a misunderstanding immediately now (another lesson).
Joan, Funny, unless I'm really wrong (and I've been that, too!), good things are on the way. It's almost an adventure now, isn't that something?
Cynthia, You are so right "That is where the power is." Everything happens for a reason and there were some powerful lessons in this one!
Hear, Hear, Carole:
From bad comes good. From horrible, emerges greatness. The most difficult lessons are the most memorable, the most powerful, and the most valuable. The only thing (according to my wise, dear, sweet, fabulous mother in law) that is a tragedy in your life is what you MAKE a tragedy.
Cheers, sweetie! from DC...
Jaynee