Everything has a beginning and an end. The Tswana idiom says, "Se sa feleng se a tlhola" loosely translated it means "what has no ending is a miracle". The celebrations are different and you have to respect the requirements for each, we are told.
Whatever the beginning is, your emotions are joyous and there is some nervousness - a birth of a child, a date with a potential new flame, the meeting with extended family, a marriage, etc, etc, etc.
Often when someone expresses pain, when the mood is a celebratory beggining, most people gawk at the person like they lost their minds. The opposite is also true - anyone expressing joy at a funeral, ending of a friendship or relationship, loss of anything, etc, etc, etc.
There is an unspoken expectation that an ending is meant to be expressed in solitude and mental chaos. I want to use an analogy of a marriage or birth. When the celebrations of the wedding or delivery are in motion, everyone wants to be there. Everyone wants to contribute and be part of the experience. No-one wants to be left out of anything - the bookings, the choices of outfits, the full plan needs to be shared and proded by everyone. What a wonderful time when the love is evident and showered on the recipents.
Move into the ending; there is often a loneliness that surrounds the people needing the support. Everyone is "scared" to approach or be around anyone in pain. The pain is overbearing and all over the people in pain; there is no way of saying "I am gladly here for you". "I will be right here for anything" is very difficult to even utter.
The person in pain looks at everyone waiting for the words to comfort or soothe and alll they get is blank stares or ducking heads. The loneliness is real when someone is in pain. The expectation is never for the takeover kings and queens to be in full rescue mode but support for the journey - someone to lean on who will just be there, lovingly encouraging.
Every journey is different; the travellers are always versatile and the tools are always what you collect before the commencement of the trip. Some trips are easier alone - true - some are not so easy alone, you need love and encouragement. Everyone is needed for any for any journey - the beginning or the end. Be there!!!
When you have people that genuinely love you, you will pull through anything with their courage, support and strength. I have learnt a lot in the past year that required me to break down and let go. When I was at a point I felt I couldn't get up, true love pulled me up and and pushed me through to a life filled with joy, happiness and peace.
Love guides the genuine people in your life to allow you to let go because they are there to pick you up and keep you going. I will not say I am clear of the storm nor am I even "fine" but I am loved. That matters! I am loved - genuinely and truly unconditional.
I am thankful for every single person that has allowed me to feel the freedom and peace of love on this journey of self-discovery. Whatever happens, this is the beginning of an ending worth celebrating.