26th Feb 2023 2 min read
I look back at the good times and bad times.
I am deeply thankful for all the experiences, regardless.
Good times were little moments of surprises, laughter, and happiness.
Looking at the innumerable old photos bring back memories of many vacations taken with the children, watching them wide-eyed, smiling, chuckling, and enjoying activities.
They are close siblings, and I am thankful. Better that they are close to each other and have no sibling rivalry. Their relationship is for the long term.
Remembering how my loved one would arrange small vacations, too many and too close for my liking as I had to juggle work and fun but in hindsight, they have led to many indelible memories, experiences, and kodak moments then.
Good times taught us to be grateful for this blessing to have fun as a family and not to take things for granted. To have time together is priceless. We hope to remain unbroken forever.
Bad times were invaluable too, not that one would like to have them but lessons resulted from their occurrences.
What was construed as bad times? When things did not go as desired; such as a trip went awry. When family members were at loggerheads for the silliest reasons. When there was a health crisis.
Well, lessons abound. The answers were with us all along. There was no need to expound on the reasons. It was the law of cause and effect.
All one needed was self-reflection, adjustment, and resolution to put things right. The importance of forgiveness of others and self to start again.
We are thankful for the bad times. Painful as expected, they were necessary to shake one out of complacency.
Going forward, the family has matured with the parents getting on in age and the children fully grown. What is important is autonomy for each to pursue life with meaning, live life with zest, and be of use to people around us.
It is necessary to have space among us each, to have tranquility, peace, and respect. As well as love, gratitude, and unity to come together and celebrate a jolly good time occasionally.
Life is likened to riding the waves of a rough sea. It’s unlikely to be smooth and each has to contend with challenges on his or her own terms and grow ever stronger.
