Journey Forward {3}

Dear Chelsea,

This is, without a doubt, going to be the hardest year of your life. Your heart is going to break twice. The first time will be after you get married. You won't be able to prepare yourself for the pain after deciding to part ways. However, you’re going to learn and grow and transition into a better person because of it. He’ll come back into your life later down the road. Continue to keep an open mind. Continue to grow.

After leaving and moving home, hold on to those who let you fall into their arms. There are going to be a lot of bumps along the way of mending your broken heart. You're going to be lost for a while. Take the time to find yourself. Figure out what you believe; what you want; what you need. Most importantly, let all of this strengthen you. Remember that God has given you these trials to make you stronger and better and, as long as you work hard, you will see the positive changes in your life.

{via}

Once your heart has finally started to heal and you have started to see the big changes and improvements taking place, your heart will be broken again. It will be a different kind of heart break this time. One you've never felt before. You can't prepare yourself for the death of your Mom. You won't have much warning. God is going to take her quickly. It's going to hurt worse than anything before. Find your strength in family, prayer, and in her spirit. While you plan her funeral, you will feel a power within you that you've never felt before. That is your true potential. Embrace that and remind yourself of it constantly because that is the woman you are meant to be. Surround yourself with people who bring that out of you and do away with the rest.

Looking back on that past year will be tough. It will be full of hardships and trials that you never imagined you'd be facing this early in life. But, look... you made it. Look back on the positive memories: The way it felt to drive across the country; away from heartbreak and toward a safe, loving home. Remember what it felt like to drive through West Virginia and feel that sticky, Summer humidity on your skin again. Remember those mother-daughter moments and all the time you shared running errands together in the Fall. Remember the way it felt to link arms with her and the way her keys jingled when you'd look for her in a store. Remember the good.

It's going to be okay. The hardest year is over. Continue to learn and grow and be inspired. The best is yet to come.

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The prompt this week was to write a letter to yourself one year ago. Not only do I think it’s important to look back and reflect on how far we’ve come from where we used to be, but I think it’s important to remember the lessons life has taught us thus far and to continue to apply them today. However you chose to interpret this prompt, I’m excited to read your posts so, link up below :)

Next Week’s Prompt:

Set some goals for yourself – Goals that you want to achieve in 2012 that will bring you closer to your word. Be as specific as you’d like.

Share those goals with us next week. Keep them in mind each day and don’t lose sight of them.