it's april 29th, and it's my mum's birthday.
this is the absolute longest i've spent away from my family to date.
i think i've decided that no matter how cool a place you're in or however many awesome things you're doing, the people around you do matter. it's easy to get stuck in a place for a long time and eventually feel yourself itching to leave and willing to do anything to get on the road, no matter where that road takes you.
but i think chris mccandless was right when he concluded that happiness isn't real unless shared. and while he discovered this too late, i suppose i, being an ocean away at the moment, am choosing to embrace this reality now.
so i sit here on a monday afternoon, trying to incorporate all methods of accepting what is, and all other alan watts and buddhist wisdom, thinking happy, teary thoughts for my mom on her day of the year. i miss her in a distinct way only a daughter can miss a mother, but the sacrifice is the 'realization' and that is what's beautiful today.
so maman, mama bear, happy birthday and cheers from england. i love you and i'm so happy to think i'll be seeing you and piper on these london streets in a matter of days.
Love your reference to Christopher McCandless. His realization of needing to share happiness with others is one of my favorite things (which is why I got the quote tattooed, haha), though it still saddens me how late he figured it out. Such an important thing to realize though!
ReplyDeleteHope you're doing well across the ocean, and I hope your mother had a great day.