My Mother always told me, “This too shall pass,” whenever life threw me an issue that felt like a tornado in my world. When I struggled with my anxiety, she would encourage me to focus on what I could do and not on the could’ve, would’ve, should’ve, what if’s and if only’s. At the end of our conversations, she would say with kindness and confidence, “Meliss, this too shall pass.”
Currently, as I look outside at the beautiful Earth Day 2020, I am reminded of where I have come from and how far I have stepped into the reality of the symbol above. My symbol above is a phoenix. It is a mythical creature that is rising from the ashes. With beauty and fire, it rose and soared high above those ashes. So much of my life with my mental health and now with the loss of my mother has left me and my life in a pile of ashes. When Mom passed, and I lost my anchor, it seemed that I had no where to go. I had hit rock bottom and I had watched the beautiful life I had with my Mother supporting my every move, burn down to a heap of ashes.
I will say this, even in this Covid-19 crisis, where being stuck inside is rattling in my head all the past fears and anxieties, I see myself as this phoenix, rising from the life that had been burned to ashes.
Ani DiFranco has an amazing song called 32 Flavors. Here is an excerpt from her song that has inspired me to rise up like the phoenix.
“God help you if you are an ugly girl,
of course too pretty is also your doom.
Cause everyone harbors a secret hatred,
for the prettiest girl in the room.
And God help you if you are a phoenix,
and you dare to rise up from the ash.
A thousand eyes will smolder with jealousy,
while you are just flying there.”
Excerpt from the song 32 Flavors by Ani DiFranco
Check out that song, if you get a chance. I send out hope, love and light to all of you reading this. Right now may seem like we are in the ashes, but as Mama said, this too shall pass, and we will all rise from our ashes, despite the jealousy of others. We will soar, knowing we over came one of the hardest times we have had to live through. Be encouraged and never give up on yourself, no matter what! This too shall pass!