credit: www.flickr.com
So there I was enjoying the hot Florida sun, languishing with the post race crowd in the cool waters of a pool. I looked over to my left as a fellow runner (whom I met earlier at the race) walked in wearing a Red Sox cap and T-shirt. “Hey, where are you from?”, I shouted to him as he approached the water. I was surprise to learn that he had grown up in a town not too far from where I was currently living. Before I knew it, he had climbed into the pool beside me. An immediate sense of ease came over me as we began what turned into a 2 1/2 hour conversation.
I will spare you the details; they are not important. Suffice it to say that we each felt a shift occur. A connection. Certainly we were not the only ones to witness this event. Fellow runners and my own teenage sons were keen observers as well. My parents -especially my late mother-were thrilled to see me enjoy myself for a change. (I was in the midst of a nasty divorce, feeling drained and lost.) My mother sang this man’s praises later that evening, but I had no expectations. After all, we lived very far from each other and I was still not legally divorced. Her reply was simple: “Well, you never know.”
And that’s right. You never do know. Pivotal changes can be subtle. They can be the beginnings of something new without any tangible or obvious or even immediate changes. In my life, meeting the man I love helped me to return to myself. He did not come into my life to save me-that was up to me. He came into my life for many reasons not the least of which was to show me the profound sense of peace that deep love and commitment can bring.
We have been together nearly five years and will be married in a year and a half. My hard work raising my sons is done. I have given birth to myself once again. I will be moving away from a place that I have known all my life to embrace a newer culture and climate. I have never been more afraid and more ready. Living out loud and truly free with a man who loves me for me.
Many thanks to Kelley Rose for hosting Kellie Elmore’s 
#FWF Free Write Friday: LIFE CHANGERS | with Guest Host Kelley Rose
Building A Life Of Hope 
Love, love, love! That last paragraph makes my heart sing.
Thank you Jennie! We’re hanging together today and the rest of the weekend. So my heart is really singing!
Awwww an amazing, honest write. I had no idea until the end that it was this week’s FWF as I haven’t made it as far as Kellie’s blog yet. Wonderful. Hope filled. Life changing. I know deep down you know you are ready and that fear is a made up state. This is the beginning of a brand new adventure. It is right, and because it is right you needn’t worry about jumping in with both feet. The water is deep enough!
Have a great weekend together.
Thank you! Yes indeed, I agree that the water is deep; no need to jump-just floating peacefully along! 🙂
Awwww I like that ‘floating’ – now have a vision of you like one of those uber smiley 50’s swim starlets floating along, surrounded by huge water flowers 🙂
Enjoy!
Beautiful, it’s amazing how those little moments are the ones we never see coming. Thank you so much for sharing K, and good luck in the new phase of your life!
I think that was the best part about meeting him-unexpected and just lovely. 🙂 Kim
Fantastic! All the very best to you.
I appreciate it Kate!
Some times the new adventure is scary, but well worth the voyage. ” Living out loud and truly free with a man who loves me for me” is a beautiful ending to your story and the start of your “new” life.
I have to believe this new adventure is the path that I am destined for in order to truly carve out my own life. I am glad you like the ending!
Congratulations!!! That’s awesome. So happy that you have experienced such a wonderful life changing experience. Wishing you all the best … Dorothy 🙂
What is so fascinating about the change is that it came in the midst of two huge upheavals. The “light” revealing itself in the dark times.
So so wonderful. I love the line about saving yourself…so true and so right.
Thank you Maria. It feels good to have a relationship that serves as an oasis in my life. Glad you liked that line-it was my favorite too. Nothing like feeling grounded within yourself!
This is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing this part of you with us. I wish you the best as you move forward.
Thank you Colline! It is always about moving forward. I am very grateful to have found a special love. We are very happy!
This is such a beautiful love story. Reminds me of my mom’s second chance…my step-dad…so happy you found the true Kim. I might not have met you here…who knows. Namaste, Oliana
Thank you Oliana! It is true-we would not have met here had my life not under gone a major change. I am truly grateful for and cognizant of all the good things that have come from misery. Many, many doors opened for my sons and I as a result of their dad’s exit.
😀