Changes In Life

Here is a wonderful opportunity for all of you to spend some time with other women writers.The Story Circle Network is hosting its Stories From the Heart conference for women writers in Austin, Texas April 13-15. There will be three days of workshops on a variety of topics of interest to women who write. Whether you are a beginner or seasoned writer, I'm sure you will be glad you attended. As President of Story Circle I will be there and would love to meet the creative women who read and submit to this newsletter. For more information, go to www.storycircle.org

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What it Was, What it Is: February 2012

By: Pat LaPointe, 2/14/2012 9:24:09 PM

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Everywhere you go this month there are pink or red hearts, jewelry sales and discounts on flowers. It’s possibly a bit of a stretch, but as I sat down to write this column on changes in our lives, the words “change of heart” kept popping into my head. I reviewed my life, looking for times when I had a “change of heart”. I realized that in those times my change of heart required forgiving someone, even myself, for comments, attitudes or actions that were negative and/or hurtful.

Although there are many events that reflect a change of heart, one in particular stands out for me. I had a rather tumultuous relationship with my mother in my childhood and adolescence. As a result, in my twenties and thirties I kept a psychological “wall” around me whenever we were together in order to keep me safe and create peace between us.

I was in my late forties when something changed. I don’t know if it was gaining wisdom or maturity, being a mother with nearly grown children myself, or seeing my aging mother become more dependent on me that elicited the change. I think most likely it was because I began to see the “woman” that was my mother.

I was able to tear down some of the wall between us as we began to do so many things together: shopping, doctor appointments etc. But there was still a small part of me that remained guarded. The last bit of the wall came down as I watched my mother dying. In just seconds before the heart monitor flat-lined, I reached over, stroked her face and said “I forgive you”.

I don’t know if she heard me or not. But I began to truly understand what has been said about forgiveness: It is more for the benefit of the person doing the forgiving than for the person who is being forgiven. It is definitely a freeing experience.

So this month I hope that you can look over your past to see if maybe you might have a “change of heart” and forgive someone who has hurt you.

In this month’s first essay, “A Funeral” by Angelina Carione Ferrucci, a change of heart as she ponders what it means to be an adult.

In our second essay, “ Women Friends”, SuZAnne Cole has a change of heart regarding friendships with women.

Changes In Life

Becoming the woman you were meant to be

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