New growth

“To everything there is a season…”

— Ecclesiastes 3:1

This year, spring had a way of becoming summer before I felt ready to let go of everything it asked me to leave behind. 

It wasn’t necessarily that spring itself asked me to leave anything behind, rather that everything around me was blooming and new while I was grieving the death of my beloved cat and trying to adjust to the changes afterward. He really was so much a part of our life, and having to say goodbye was very difficult.

Meanwhile, my toddler was turning 3 and becoming her own sweet little self, growing (and running!) faster even than the grass seems to this time of year. In comparison, there were moments when my writing life seemed to stall a bit in favor of being a stay-at-home-mom.

Lately, though, I’ve begun to feel some movement again. I have a few new manuscript projects taking shape, as well as an opportunity to mentor a student writer. Just some small reminders that the creative part of me is still moving and growing too.

It's probably not surprising that recently I've written a lot of pieces inspired by either my late cat, my toddler, or both. I even decided to submit one of those poems to an area contest, just to try dipping a toe back into the water.

I do still deeply miss my kitty and the time we spent together, growing, and watching seasons change.

But even after losing someone who was so woven into my (and my family's) life story, I find there are still new things blooming quietly nearby, or bursting brightly open with a toddler’s flourish.

It's only natural to let the light come through, turn toward it, and grow into it.