Oasis in the Desert

So, I just got back from Palm Springs where I spent four glorious days with the most wonderful friends of my past. These are amazing women. They are women with strength, intelligence, wit, spirituality and grace. I am blessed in immeasurable ways by their friendships, and I am a far better person than I might be if I didn't know them.

Perhaps only other mothers can understand the relaxation and utter freedom that comes from four days with friends and no children or husbands. Certainly my children and husband are the center of my life, but sometimes its nice to get off course for a few days and just be you -- without all the attachments. These women allow me to be me - the me that I was long before my family came to know the me that I am now. I couldn't be the latter without the former, and it's always refreshing to visit that former self and reconnect. I feel rejuvenated. I feel stronger. I feel more connected to myself and other mothers. I can't wait to do it again.

Here are some valuable lessons I picked up from my weekend away (in no particular order):

* Being a mother - whether you work at another job or not - is hard. It's emotional. There are days you fail beyond what you thought your capacity to fail was. But then there are days when you succeed beyond your known capacity. It's a rollercoaster -- for everyone. We are never alone.

* The people who are the most fascinating to be around are those who can find humor in any situation. I am going to work harder fostering that ability.

* There is never an excuse for not learning something new. About yourself, about the world around you, about your children, about any topic. We are responsible for our own growth and we should always be working toward exponential progress.

* Shopping is always more fun in groups. And always more fun without kids.

* We think about ourselves (our own weaknesses and perceived shortcomings) far more than others think about them. It's time to just get over it already.

* Reunions are fabulous, and should happen a lot more often.