
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!