Karen Restivo
In Other Words....
My dad use to say, “If we ever decide to write a book about our life, we’d have to call it fiction because nobody would believe us.”
He was right.
Looking back, I find it hard to believe myself.
My life’s most treasured peaks and darkest valleys paved a path that gently nudged me to keep moving, for turning back was never an option.
If I had a chance to go back and talk to my younger self at various stages in life, I would assure her that everything is going to be OK and not to worry so much.
Growing up, I spent so much time worrying about whether I was pretty enough, thin enough, tall enough or smart enough.
Come to think of it, I would tell myself, “Karen, you are enough.”
We are all enough.
We come equipped to handle everything that life throws our way.
We don’t realize it at the time as obstacles come barreling down our path, but looking back we’ve managed to jump the hurdle, dodge a bullet, catch the Hail Mary pass, and momentarily land on our feet.
It’s when we realize that through it all, we were never alone when we faced the monstrous illusions fear had created in our minds.
(Sadly, fear mongering is alive and well in 2024.)
God’s presence was and is ever present.
In other words, growth comes out of both the joys and struggles we encounter, and from that, our life story is written.
Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.
Khalil Gibran
Karenrestivo57@gmail.com