Closing a Chapter in Life - Jane's Mindful Musings

I lived in Panama for eight years before relocating to Denia, Spain two years ago. We are currently back in Panama for a week to handle the closing on the sale of our condo. To my surprise, I am experiencing a deep sadness as I prepare to close this chapter of my life.

The choice to begin a new adventure was initiated by my unhappiness in Panama. It is a beautiful country with so much to offer but it is still a developing country with many challenges that over time I found increasingly more difficult to accept. As I sat with a fellow Sole Sister by the pool yesterday, we talked about my surprise over the feelings I am processing. She reminded me I couldn’t get out of here quick enough when it was time to leave.

But, as I sit on my balcony and watch as the sun rises over the ocean, I find myself reflecting not on the negative but all the positive experiences and memories that were created during my time here. This is an unexpected gift of creating closure with a mindset of gratitude and joy instead of holding onto the negative when reflecting back.

One of the greatest blessings I received as I embarked on this chapter was taking some time to reflect on who I wanted to be, to re-discover myself. To evaluate who I currently was and how I wanted to move forward in life. It is easy to forget what a chapter in your life created once you close that door but taking time to reflect on the positive changes is an enriching experience we should all take time to explore.

Due to the opportunities I experienced during this time, a blossoming occurred wherein I found the courage to come out of myself, become a yoga teacher which is my passion, to create a large and supportive group, for the first time in my life, of like minded women that I have the honor of calling friends.

Many of these women are Sole Sister Ramblers and I love when they share their adventures with our group. It allows us to remain connected and reminds me of the amazing experiences we shared. We will be coming together this week for one last time to join in our love of hiking and each other's company.

I have walked the beach with a dear friend, chatted by the pool with another, and remembered all the joy we experienced in our little condo that we called home for eight years. I am reflecting on our travels around this beautiful country and the fun times on weekend getaways into Panama City.

And so I have come to the conclusion that we need to embrace closure with gratitude for the experiences that helped in shaping us into who we are now. A closing is not an end but a continuation of our life journey. Hold onto all the life lessons and memories and let go of any negativity as you move forward.

I need to add an addendum here. This Mindful Monday is exploring a positive chapter in my life and so I am expressing discovering the joy of finding closure.

There have been chapters of my life that were painful, difficult and heartbreaking. These chapters take much more work and internal reflection to find closure and release of any negativity surrounding that time.

But, one thing I have learnt is that holding onto what is past, not finding a way to forgive and move forward does nothing but harm my mental wellbeing and ability to move forward to create the life that makes me happy.