Brave Enough To Be Bliss

from each other. It sounds crazy I know, but while I didn’t know what it would be about, I truly felt there was a reason. But regardless, I at least wanted you to know that I have learned from you, I have grown from the experience of sharing myself with you in every way I have, and you brought great joy to my life the other night. You, Allen, have been a blessing and gift to me. Thank you. The old me lived in fear of all things for decades. The old me could never have gotten to know you and what a loss that would have been. The past four years I have done a lot of hard work learning self-compassion and then figuring out my behaviors and how they impacted all my relationships, not just male-female but all of them, and I’m now writing a book I hope will be published one day to help others know they are not alone in their struggle and that with some work we can all have a more joy filled future for us and our children. And to answer your question from bed…I have not allowed myself to have fantasies in the past. Fear didn’t allow me to think o f things that weren’t a sure thing. In my way of safe thinking, why imagine something I might never have, why set myself up for that disappointment. If I were to have allowed myself to have a fantasy, simply having a hot young man like you in my bed would’ve been as far as my limited mind would have gone.

Ginger Bliss Facebook Post March 4, 2022

A continuation from last year’s post follows, but first…my heart is truly overflowing. My sincere thanks to each one of you w ho made my birthday so special. Every single name and word was read, every moment shared became a beautiful memory, the song sung will always be remembered, every drink, meal, sweet treat enjoyed, every gift a precious remembrance of the giver. You all have many things you could do each day, so taking a moment to wish me well in whatever way you did was so greatly appreciated.

2022: The past year has been filled with unexpected, beautiful, vulnerable, life changing human connections. I have learned to allow my soul to guide my life and not question that still, soft voice when it speaks to me. My soul is filled with pure love and compassion for human beings, especially those who are struggling to get through this sometimes very painful life. I have never been one to talk about my strengths because honestly, I couldn’t see them, but now I believe I have a gift for seeing and hearing the pain others try to hide. Perhaps it is because I saw that pain in my own eyes every day and perfected how to keep it hidden. Perhaps it is simply because I try to give each person, I come into contact with the best of me…my time, my attention, my love, my care, my compassion. The game changer is that in the past year, I also have gotten much better at consistently giving those same things to myself which has allowed me to trust myself and truly connect with people for the first time. I can sit quietly, be still and at peace with myself instead of living a constantly crazy busy life running away from the things that have, in reality, given me a life that is actually worth living. Living a life trying to be perfect in the hopes others could possibly love me led to isolation. Living a life just being the imperfect me that I am, has led to the most fulfilling relationships I have ever had. My willingness to be vulnerable invites others to join me in simply being human and learning whatever we can from one another. This birthday a theme emerged through cards, gifts and multiple comments that has touched my heart and is an example of the many amazing coincidences on my journey that I believe are divinely inspired. The theme was summed up with a comment from Judy when she said, “You have let your light shine!” Shared Facebook Post From 2021 I was reflecting on this 53rd birthday week and am so grateful for the many friends, family and friends who have become family who reached out to wish me well. I was also reflecting on my life, and how I have learned more about living in the past three than I did in the previous 50. 1968-2017: I lived in fear of all things. Annette is the queen of selfies and when she routinely started taking them of us around 2015, I didn’t like it, but I love her, so I let her sometimes. I just hoped no one would see them and I didn’t want to look at them eit her, but she’d always send them to me anyway. 2018: My daughter inspired me in so many ways for so many reasons. I got a tatt oo with the words “Be Brave”, so every day I would be reminded and would become someone who didn’t just say the right things to do but would do them. That fall I took my first ever solo vacation. It was uncomfortable and challenging, but also surprisingly enlightening and enjoyable. I began to learn what I truly enjoy and what I don’t. I began to identify all the various stories I made up in my mind and I began to question them. And Annette made me promise to send her a few selfies. I hated it, but for the challenge, I did it. 2019: I became aware of just how much fear in some way drove every decision I made. I took Kylee to the Cayman Islands, and we knocked a few things off the bucket list I created when I turned 50 the previous year. We also took silly photos before dinner one night and I actually loved the experience, and the photos made me smile. I learned I am stronger than my fears if I decide to be. 2020: I began to live, not live bravely really, but just fully live and feel and experience all the good and bad, happy, and sad, and fun and challenging things life brings. I returned to the Cayman Islands, my first solo vacation out of the country, the week before my 52nd birthday. I tried new things. I didn’t worry about what anyone else might think of me. I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to do. I taught myself how to paddle board in the ocean (another bucket list item) despite the wind that created conditions right after I

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