New Beginnings: Rejoicing in Renewal, Restoration, Rejuvenation, Resilience

Endings can be experienced as positive or negative, always signifying the end of something, the culmination of tasks or a journey, one which inevitably includes a rollercoaster of events and emotions., and quite probably, missteps. Even when the journey has been a positive one, the ending can bring feelings of a let down…”is this all there is? I thought I would feel differently.” Here’s the thing…at the end of anything….there is a new beginning. At the end of any road, there is another road from which to choose for further exploration.
  
We are at the end of one such road. As 2021 turns her last corner to take the final stretch towards the finish line, we are reminded of the challenges that faced us, some of which we fought head on- others by which we were crushed and left feeling defeated and depleted, crawling through our next steps as though we were trying to swim through quicksand and fast setting cement. Either way, the important thing is that we faced them, even when everything around us told us we would fail. And maybe we did fail at some things….maybe we fell along the way and needed help getting back up. But we didn’t give up….warriors don’t have that as an option. 
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Our Idayimani Montessori Academy teachers accomplished great things this year- they excelled in their teachers’ classes and graduated, eager and ready to bring their talents and love to our first students at Idayimani. They looked fear of all things squarely in the face and vowed to never give up…and they didn’t. No matter what else might have been weighing on them, they forged through and accomplished great things! In addition, our temporary location, graciously blessed to us by the Red Cross, is completed and set up, with bright colors, awesome supplies, and lots of love ready for our students, their parents, our teachers and a boat load of learning.  
Perspective and progress is impacted by our attitude and we have shown that we are resourceful and courageous, even brave, and while fear and uncertainty surely might have slowed our steps, and may again in the future, we have shown ourselves and others that of which we are made. We are celebrating and rejoicing in renewal, restoration, rejuvenation, and resilience.

So, let us look past the finish line and jump for joy at what lies ahead.… by truly embracing the road behind us that brought us to this place! The place of which I speak is NEW BEGINNINGS!