by Barbara J. Hopkinson
Finding your purpose—now that is a challenge! Wouldn’t it be nice if we all came into this world with a blueprint and instructions? Hmmm . . . I am not convinced. That might be pretty boring. Besides, we most likely wouldn’t believe it anyway; we seem to require something BIG to happen in our lives to motivate us to figure life out, if we ever do.
I didn’t start searching for that answer until I was age fifty, but that wasn’t the event that triggered it. What triggered it was the sudden death of my 21-year-old son. That tragedy rocked my world. It was a catalyst in ending my 30-year marriage and it sent me on a spiritual journey that transformed my life. That journey included freeing me to work on what I now believe is my life’s purpose—to help families struggling with the loss of a child to find a new normal, to find hope again. They can; I did.
My search was accelerated by being laid off from a 10-year job in the corporate world, when the economy crashed. As I looked for new work, I questioned what I should really be doing. I felt driven to find out, to do something in memory of my son, and something I could do to earn my income from helping others. But I didn’t know what that was!
I started reading about spirituality and destiny, and meditated on what I should be considering. My background was in international corporate technology sales; I had no clue about this spiritual destiny stuff!
But I received a “let’s team up” message from my son through a trusted friend, and I founded a local chapter of The Compassionate Friends, supporting family after a child dies. I have worked with hundreds of families since then. After working on life purpose meditation exercises, I got a strong feeling that I needed to write a book. I began to take writing classes and worked on turning information from my memory and from my journals into my first book, a memoir to help other grieving families.
All of that, along with more experience, as well as getting certified as a Grief Recovery Specialist, has morphed into my current life’s work. My non-profit company is called “A Butterfly’s Journey To A New Normal,” which has a threefold mission to help bereaved families find hope and happiness again, to help organizations close the gaps in supporting them, and to elevate awareness and discussion on this difficult topic.
I am much happier and more at peace following my life’s purpose.
You will be too, when you are ready. Have FAITH that you will find yours!
Finding your purpose—now that is a challenge! Wouldn’t it be nice if we all came into this world with a blueprint and instructions? Hmmm . . . I am not convinced. That might be pretty boring. Besides, we most likely wouldn’t believe it anyway; we seem to require something BIG to happen in our lives to motivate us to figure life out, if we ever do.
I didn’t start searching for that answer until I was age fifty, but that wasn’t the event that triggered it. What triggered it was the sudden death of my 21-year-old son. That tragedy rocked my world. It was a catalyst in ending my 30-year marriage and it sent me on a spiritual journey that transformed my life. That journey included freeing me to work on what I now believe is my life’s purpose—to help families struggling with the loss of a child to find a new normal, to find hope again. They can; I did.
My search was accelerated by being laid off from a 10-year job in the corporate world, when the economy crashed. As I looked for new work, I questioned what I should really be doing. I felt driven to find out, to do something in memory of my son, and something I could do to earn my income from helping others. But I didn’t know what that was!
I started reading about spirituality and destiny, and meditated on what I should be considering. My background was in international corporate technology sales; I had no clue about this spiritual destiny stuff!
But I received a “let’s team up” message from my son through a trusted friend, and I founded a local chapter of The Compassionate Friends, supporting family after a child dies. I have worked with hundreds of families since then. After working on life purpose meditation exercises, I got a strong feeling that I needed to write a book. I began to take writing classes and worked on turning information from my memory and from my journals into my first book, a memoir to help other grieving families.
All of that, along with more experience, as well as getting certified as a Grief Recovery Specialist, has morphed into my current life’s work. My non-profit company is called “A Butterfly’s Journey To A New Normal,” which has a threefold mission to help bereaved families find hope and happiness again, to help organizations close the gaps in supporting them, and to elevate awareness and discussion on this difficult topic.
I am much happier and more at peace following my life’s purpose.
You will be too, when you are ready. Have FAITH that you will find yours!
Barbara J. Hopkinson, Grief Mentor, Author, and Speaker with A Butterfly’s Journey, is a guest blogger and coauthor of F.A.I.T.H. – Finding Answers in the Heart, Volume II. To pre-order your copy of this inspirational book, click here.
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