Adaptability...who's your role model?

My mom passed away this December. Funny how in the midst of all this world wide crisis, how often I've felt the absence of her calming voice. Even at the age of 50, I still want my Mom to tell me "it'll be all right". But I'm learning....learning to be a bit more like her.

After her first stroke, Mom spent a year recovering (mostly regaining her eyesight). One of the losses she endured during that year was the loss of driving her own car. Talk about a challenge when you live on your own, outside of the downtown core area, where walking to get what you need just isn't an option. Still, Mom was undaunted. She picked up the local (and extremely limited) bus schedule and figured out how to make do. One of my favorite photos of her now, is of her standing under the trees during a very hot summer day, waiting to catch the bus. I had insisted on taking the bus with her rather than drive her car for her, because I really wanted to experience her bus stories! So we waited patiently for the local bus and I snapped this picture. When I see it, it reminds me of how adaptable she always was. No complaining, no bemoaning how difficult it all suddenly became for her, she just figure out a new routine, re-scheduled the things she had control over, and made do - all with a smile and good sense of humor.

Well Mom, I'm learning....learning to be adaptable...but I'm sure glad you laid out the model for me! Cancelled flights, curfews, work from home, figuring out a whole new way to deliver instruction, changing running and workout times, following what seem to be ridiculously over-cautious routines everytime I go out and then re-enter the house.... and who knows what all else still to come....I'm learning - be adaptable. And if you can, do it with a smile on your face.

Thanks Mom.