A New Life Begins

March 1, 2012: My world has changed completely and irrevocably from what it was a year ago....or even a month ago. Last spring, I was a fulltime caregiver for my 26 year old son with disabilities and for my then 93-year old mother. Now they are both gone....passed away.
Alex died unexpectedly after a seizure May 17 of last year and Mother died this February, also unexpectedly after falling. I had already lost my husband over five years ago and yes, that was unexpected as well. So, here I am, alone in this big house trying to tie up loose ends financially and otherwise. My closest blood relative, my son Aron, lives on the other side of the planet in Indonesia with a wife and toddler *smile*...my granddaughter Sofie. Life is very different and it feels weird to be so unfettered to anything or anybody. It's in my DNA to think positively about life changes, especially when they occur out of my control. Life happens and I just have to make the best of it. So, here I am less than a month into this uncharted world where I am beholding to no one and nothing, but my own conscience and my faith in God. I haven't held a paying job for five years and I have no desire or plans right now to find employment. I have other priorities and the good fortune to be able to live comfortably for now without income. Put that high on the list of blessings. I also have some very close friends who care about me and on whom I can lean in times of need. They're also just enjoyable to be around. They make me happy. I am finding comfort and support as well within my church family. I've always been a spiritual person, but not terribly religious. I am more so now simply because I can make church attendance, activities, and fellowship a priority. In my previous life as a double caregiver it was too overwhelming to place emphasis on church. Since Alex passed, I had genuinely enjoyed accompanying Mom to church. I like my church, the church leaders, and its mission "growing disciples of Christ by seeking God, sharing love, and serving others." (Pleased to say I just wrote that by heart. We say it aloud every Sunday. Good to be reminded what we're supposed to be about.) While I'm listing my blessings, I have to mention a few others....Dance. Stripped down to my core, I identify myself as a dancer. Dance for me is an expression of love (for beautiful music) and a form of worship of the Divine. I take a ballet class three mornings a week and it invigorates my body and restores my soul. There is much more for which I feel blessed, not the least of which is now freedom...freedom to allocate my time as I wish. That brings me to this blog, 'Dara Does Life'. My previous blog experiences were really travelogs in words and photos from my two trips to Indonesia. This new DDL blog is not really intended for any audience. It's really more for me. This will be my journey into a new life guided by a new life plan with priorities all my own. By journaling I hope my introspection will lead to insights and to inspiration that results in self improvement and, more importantly, in actions that benefit others.