“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. God Himself is not secure, having given man dominion over His works! Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold. Faith alone defends. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. To keep our faces toward change and behave like free spirits in the presence of fate is strength undefeatable.” – Helen Keller
My twenty-one year old daughter is getting ready to take a long road trip, a vision quest of some sort you might say. She’s honoring the call of letting go of what she has known thus far and taking the leap into the unknown.
I have been walking with her through her preparations on a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual level. There have been conversations about the excitement and the fear of her journey. There has been purging of material possessions, purging of outgrown relationships and of old beliefs that no longer serve her.
She shares how great it feels to let go of material things. She shares her sadness of letting go of old relationships and the feeling of being alone. She realizes that she doesn’t need all the things and the people she thought she did.
She appears to be in a great state of simplifying her life, of letting go of what no longer serves her and letting go of old beliefs of what she thought she needed to be happy. I sit and watch in awe of her courage and her determination to honor the calling of her soul.
My words may sound as if I am at complete peace with her decision to go on a two- month road trip by herself ¬— I’m not. I am experiencing a variety of emotions. I believe what I am experiencing are valid human emotions more specifically motherly emotions. I feel the fear but most of all I feel the excitement with her.
I have always believed that our children can be our greatest teachers, so long as we are willing to pay attention and be present with them. I have learned much about life and myself from all three of my children. My daughter is now teaching me the importance of being true to oneself, daring to keep our faces toward change, and being the free spirits we are meant to be.
So remember to feel the fear and do it anyway!
Hi Maria,
I’ve just found your & Glenn’s work and signed up for this blog. Thank you so much for sharing. I am the dad of a 19-year-old son and am relating to what you write through that lens (although I know that a daughter’s journey out into the world is different!) Thinking of your daughter, I want to share the work and blog of a very powerful young woman, in case your daughter is interested. Chelsea Luger’s blog is called “Traveling While Indigenous” (which I love). http://www.chelseyluger.com/ Thank you also for sharing the Helen Keller quote…I’ve read the single sentence about “life is a daring adventure” but I have never read the entire quote til now. Go Helen…what a powerhouse.
Yours Truly,
Chris
Hi Chris,
Thank you for signing up for my blog. I appreciate your thoughtful words and identifying with me as a parent. Thank you for sharing Chelsy Luger’s blog. I shared it with my daughter, she’s excited and looking forward to knowing a kindred spirit. Thank you again Chris and wishing all the best to you and your son. Maria