I always wanted a different kind of Mom. One who would bake and cook and fill my freezer when I needed her to. Instead I got a Mom who worked hard to give us a home, who was creative and resourceful. I got a Mom who taught us about learning and being adventurous. She was our rock growing up. My friends tell me I have courage in spades, and I know where I got that quality.
We don’t always get the people in our lives we want, but what are we learning about ourselves as we interact with them?
I’ve been thinking about the various people and relationships in my life lately, especially the ones that have challenged me and forced me to grow. I’m observing this acutely as I learn to be a mother to my adult sons. I’m paying attention to how I’m learning to let go, learning to focus on myself and becoming the person I’m meant to be.
The Rolling Stones in their song “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” said it perfectly.
You can’t always get what you want. But if you try sometimes you might find. You get what you need.
I feel like I got exactly what I need. What have you learned from the people in your life? Would you like to try to write or sketch about it?
Try this writing/sketching prompt: I get (or got) what I need when …
Write for 5 or 10 minutes without stopping. Keep your pen moving (or your sketch pencil sketching) and don’t stop to re-read or make corrections. You may be surprised with what emerges. Enjoy and let me know how it goes!
