The YOU Inside of YOU Is Still There

I had a birthday yesterday, and I celebrated this week by memorizing a song. If it sounds strange, that’s because it is : ).
 
Let me explain.
 
Recently I’ve been in nostalgia mode (kids moving, last birthday in my 40’s, more time to reflect). For the last two decades much of my guaranteed joy has been centered around raising kids. Guess what?!? In the beautiful blink of an eye, they are beyond raised and already flying.
 
So what’s a mom to do?
 
Wait, let me re-phrase that, what’s a girl to do?
 
I know I’ll always be a much-loved mom, but lately, with less to stress about, I’ve been reflecting on the girl I was before I was a mom.
 
One notable tidbit that rose to the top - she loved singing (badly) to records, to the radio, in the shower, in her room, and eventually in her car - anywhere no one else was around to hear.
 
So, on recent 30-minute drive, I made it a mission to memorize a favorite song like I used to do as a teenager. I had to play the first verse about 78 more times than I would have as a sixteen year old: ), but the 79th time I finally got the first verse down.
 
Before I reached my destination, I got over half way through the song.
 
And then the other day out of nowhere, I started singing the song in the shower! I had to pause a couple of times to remember the exact phrasing, but I can now sing 75% of one of my favorite songs in the shower again. I just kind of mumble, hum my way through the rest.
 
I honestly can’t remember when I stopped singing in the shower, but it’s been a long time. And the joy of that activity just sat there patiently waiting for me to return.
 
I’m guessing that you have some long-forgotten joy out there waiting for you too. And if you’re a parent on the edge of sending kids out into the world, I promise that you will survive (take all the tears and time you need). One day you’ll get around to remembering that the YOU inside of YOU is still there, patiently waiting for you to rediscover little joys.