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Destination
Inspiration
June 2008
A Daughterly Duty
By Lisbeth Anne
Marín
Motivational
Speaker
Professional
Development Consultant
At
the risk of sounding immodest, there aren’t many things that I fear,
avoid or can’t do. Truth be told, the only obstacle I’ve ever faced was
my own erroneous belief that I couldn’t do it, whatever it
was!
Today’s
woman has cast-off many can’t-dos. Could you imagine not being
allowed to wear pants, vote or live independently without being
called an old maid or spinster? Perish the thought and fiddle de dee!
My
life is filled with strong, thriving, vibrant women who are poised to
experience their lives with panache. In fact, they are the rule rather
than the exception.
Consider
our senior women, many of whom were married right after high school to
men that loved honored and cherished them. Husbands took care of these
women and protected them from the world. They held traditional roles
where men did the yard and automotive work and earned the primary
income. Meanwhile, in shirtwaist dresses and beauty parlor beehives,
women deftly managed the duties of the house and children. I’ve never
experienced that lifestyle and it makes me wonder …did I miss-out on
something or did I escape from becoming dependent?
Alone, I
accomplish everything that is required to run a household, a business
raise a son and still I’m free…but let me stop before I burst into a
rousing rendition of “I can bring home the bacon…da da dadum…fry it
up in a pan…da da dadum”
Nobody
has ever taken care of me except my Mom and Dad when I was a girl. My
teenage years were rebellious to put it mildly, I was, as they say, a
handful! As a result, I’ve been on my own since I was 17. That school
of hard knocks is quite a place and I graduated at the top of my class.
I’ve learned there is nothing more valuable then empirical knowledge.
You know, ‘been there done that…got the t-shirt and the bag of chips’.
Yes, the knowledge of consequences is an amazing commodity!
On
March 31st my 82 year old Dad went home to live with The
Lord. It has been a difficult time but I now realize that the deeper
loss is my Mom’s inability to function, on any level, without him. For
5 weeks since his passing it’s become increasingly evident that alone
simply does not compute for her. I now understand that adage couples
use “my other half or my better half”. I am witnessing a woman who is
alone without a reference point and who is moving through uncharted
waters on a grand scale.
I
am writing from 20,000 feet, atop a fabulously fluffy cloud over GA as I
fly back to Florida to rescue my Mom! Tomorrow, on Mother’s Day, I’ll
know that I’ve finally given her the perfect gift. I am bringing her
the part of my Father that lives so strongly in me. The strength,
confidence and courage to convince her that it’s going to be OK and
Daddy is back to take care of her. All she has to do is look into
my eyes to see him.
It’s
a daunting task but I refuse to define it with fear or even the
slightest inkling of negativity. Sure, my life is about to change but
life is about being willing to embrace change and be excited about
turning the first page of every new chapter in your life.
This
will be OK, I can do it and I am ready for the blessing that comes with
stepping out in faith for life’s next growth spurt!
Lisbeth Anne Marín
is a Motivational Training Consultant and Public Speaker specializing in
interpersonal and organizational development skills. She presents a
wide array of staff development training programs, motivational seminars
and interactive human resource workshops. To view the topics on which
training programs or private consultation can be provided, please visit
the website, www.lisbethanne.com or call Lisbeth at 910.867.3163
to discuss your training goals. The website also features a gallery of
award winning designs along with a schedule of complimentary Business
Seminars that are presented to the public through the Center for
Business and Industry at FTCC. |
