From the editor...
Renewal
On January 23, 2007, I lost ¾ of what was well on its way to becoming a very successful business. Two years later, I lost it all!
For over five years, I worked fifteen hour days and spent many sleepless nights but despite all of that, like dead leaves caught up in the autumn breeze, POOF — it all blew away. The business won awards and received high praises, but at the end of the day it was simply not enough. The great thing about making that statement today is that TODAY, I realize that losing a business was something that happened to me, but, IT WAS NOT ME! Saying it out loud means I own it all; the good and the bad. I recognize the truth which is, I am not “my stuff” but rather the caretaker of “my stuff” and in spite of the fact that I lost some stuff, I AM HERE!
It is not an easy thing to accept when things do not go according to plan and when your most gallant efforts are not enough. But acceptance is perhaps one of the greatest lessons one can learn when trying to make your way through difficult times.
Like many who are experiencing loss during these tough economic times, I too went through the emotions that ranged from wanting to pull the covers over my head and never get out of bed again, to anger at those who I believed played a hand in contributing to my unfortunate situation. There were many days when I got up and spent my hours waiting for nightfall just to be able to go through the process of denial all over again.
The good news is I also learned that running away, whether due to fear or not wanting to face the facts, or regurgitating my anger were not options I needed in order to get myself back on track again.
And so, getting up each morning and putting one foot in front of the other became my primary focus each day. The interesting thing is that it also became the key element in the renewal process and ultimately the healing that is finally beginning to make itself known as I work toward building my future. What I also learned was in order to get past it, I had to go through it. And that meant doing an assessment of what I had lost, who I owed, how much I owed, and what was I going to do about it.
The real breakthrough came, however, on the day that I finally forced myself to take a look at the broken pieces of my life and ask myself the critical question of, “how can I take these ashes and turn them into fertile ground and more importantly, what lessons can I learn from having gone through such pain.” After all it was not about what is lost, but rather, what is gained. And, there is always a treasure that is gained, even from the most painful experience. The challenge always is to recognize what it is.
This issue of Recipes for Good Living Magazine is dedicated to all those who have or are suffering loss and are on the long road back to a healthy recovery. I encourage and challenge you to look at your broken pieces and own them because it is in those broken pieces that you will be able to build the beautiful mosaic that is your future.
Of all the things I think I know, one thing is for certain and that is bad things happen to all of us at one time or another. But like the trees that shed their leaves each fall until nothing is left but bare limbs that must endure the ravages of winter winds, people have the ability to take what appears to be absent of life and use it to renew and restore what is indeed our greatest treasure; the Human Spirit.
As I officially begin this incredible chapter of my life through Recipes for Good Living Magazine, I implore you to build along with me. And each month as we work diligently to share with you the gifts that have been shared with us, may you EAT, LIVE, BE WELL and THRIVE!
Deigratia,
Bonnie