I am a teacher at heart and I am a learner. We are all given lessons in life that are meant to teach us and ultimately make us stronger, better people. Actually, “given” may be the wrong choice of word, as I believe the soul decides upon these lessons. When I composed my list of New Year’s resolutions for 2015, to be published on the blog Somerset Place in the post Artful Resolutions from Creative Souls, I was in one place. I talked about wanting to paint abstracts in 2015, along with some other goals. Now, just a few weeks later, I am in a completely different place and it is challenging and painful. I am not ready to share publicly what has happened to me and perhaps I never will, because although I aim to be authentic on my blog with what I choose to share, my life is private in many ways. I have much healing and soul searching to do. I am meant to learn what is important. Little lessons have popped up about this and I did not listen. Now a much bigger thing has happened to get my attention and I have a choice to either listen and learn from it or sink. Some days it is much easier to just sink, but ultimately that is a toxic choice. Choosing the former can be difficult but I know it is what I must do. I am grateful for my loving family — my sweet, adoring husband and children. They are what is most important to me in this life and will be what I focus on as I journey and heal and hopefully become a stronger, better person in the end. Blessings to all of us in this new year. I wish you well on your own personal journey. xo