TRANSITIONS GRADUATION AND CHANGES IN THE OFFING
Watching our children grow felt like witnessing the unfolding of a beautiful story, each milestone a chapter infused with innocent wonder.
My daughter's graduation day arrived swiftly, and seeing her stand there as valedictorian – well, that remains etched in my heart as one of the proudest moments of our lives. It was a culmination of her hard work and our stable support, a moment where all the sacrifices, every ache and pain felt profoundly worthwhile.
But with such significant achievements come new horizons and transitions. As our daughter stood on the cusp of a new chapter, preparing to leave home, a bittersweetness settled over us.
Our hearts swelled with pride in her accomplishments, yet there was a quiet ache as the familiar rhythm of our family life began to shift. Our hard work, the countless hours poured into building our business, had indeed paid off, not without the help of my most wonderful husband my steadfast partner and solid support.
We celebrated my daughter's graduation as a family, a close-knit gathering reflecting her preference for intimacy over grand celebrations. Her move to the University of Florida, a two-hour drive away, marked the beginning of a new routine. Almost every other weekend, I found myself on that familiar stretch of highway, bringing her home for a brief respite and then sending her back with a car full of groceries.
There were times when exhaustion would overtake me, and I'd have to pull over for a short nap, gathering the strength to continue the journey.
While one part of our lives blossomed with our daughter's success, the other, the business we had poured our hearts into, began to present its own set of problems.
We knew we had to explore other options, even as the absence of our daughter left a noticeable void in our home. The thought of starting anew always felt daunting, a drain on our positive energy.
Yet, we understood that sometimes, necessity calls us to step outside our comfort zones and embrace the essential.
Life, it seemed, was very unpredictable therefore we were always on guard. Just when we thought we had reached a point of stability, a new challenge would emerge, bouncing us back into action. The prospect of searching for another business and starting over felt mentally draining and exhausting. The current venture had run its course, and was no longer serving its purpose.
Winds of Change were in the offing. “ Don’t watch the clock,do what it does,keep going”.
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STORE CLOSING MOVE TO ORLANDO
However, with this new search, a dual purpose began to emerge. We also desired a better college for our son.
This realization sparked a revived sense of direction.
With the thought of serving both our son's educational needs and finding a viable business opportunity, we embarked on the unfamiliar territory of Orlando, commencing our search with rental apartments. We faced the unknown together, ready to welcome the next chapter, trusting in our ability to adapt and build from scratch, just as we had in the past.
"Setbacks have always been a part of our lives.” Losing one store and having to relocate to another brought uncertainty and stress. It felt like we were constantly being tested, pushed to our limits, but we refused to give up.
We shut the DeLand store, not without a huge amount of stress and financial loss. It was awfully sad that again and again we had to start from the ground up. Just when we thought we could finally breathe, life would throw a massive curveball. It felt as if the universe was testing our resolve.
But in these moments, we found our strength. We learned that misfortunes are not simply hindrances, but rather catalysts for change. Each time we were knocked down, we rose again, more determined than before. We embraced the challenges, knowing that they would ultimately make us stronger.
"At this time, I had to undergo an arthroscopy as I had ruptured my right knee. My son helped us pack and relocate to Orlando. I used to walk with the help of a stick and for the longest time had issues walking upright.
I went through excruciating knee pain as I struggled with standing and walking, and even sleeping at night.
For hours, I would sit on the apartment balcony, watching the sky as planes flew by, and wondered how long this ordeal would last ?
Pain, stress, and the financial crisis had simply become a part of our life..
Yet, it was together that we faced this adversity. My son's support during the move and in setting up our new home was a reflection of his concern for me. We learned to lean on each other, finding strength in our shared purposefulness.
Even in my darkest hours, watching those planes go by, I held onto the hope that we would soar again, that we would attain our dreams."The only joy that would bring a smile to our lips was our daughter's constant achievements. Also, my mom traveled almost every year to help me with the kids and relocating.
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