Beginnings and Endings

I am privileged to be the mother to a wonderful and exquisite daughter. And today is the last day of school until August. For her it means the beginning of the long-awaited summer vacation, full of educational day camps and mornings swimming in her grandparent's pool and afternoon playdates with friends and her cousins. For me it means the end of quiet mornings that allow me to work and have some "me" time. Beginnings and endings.... It's the continuous cycle of life, it's how it goes, it's just what happens. To quote a mid-90's pop song, "Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end." It's true. The end of the school year = the beginning of summer vacation = the end of summer vacation = the beginning of a new school year, and it goes on and on.

The emotions that go along with dovetailing beginnings and endings can be confusing sometimes. Sadness or grief is often felt when endings occur, and yet beginnings are frequently heralded with excitement and anticipation. How do we reconcile the two? Or do we? Many people find it difficult to hold two seemingly contradictory concepts at the same time. I believe we can be sad when we come to the end of one road and, at the same time, excited about the new path we're taking. Simply because they're "opposite" emotions doesn't mean they can't coexist within us simultaneously. We can honor both, and in turn make the journey richer and more meaningful.