Goodbye doesn't always mean, the end . . .

by Kim

"I wanted a perfect ending, Now I've learned, the hard way,

that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a

clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing,

having to change, taking the moment and making the best

of it, without knowing what's going to happen next."

- Gilda Radner

Honestly, I'm having a really hard time finding the right words. What to share, what not to.

I too have learned the hard way, as all of us have at one point or another, that life doesn't always wax poetic. That sometimes the chapters we find ourselves in are, well, just not the ones we pictured ourselves starring in. It doesn't mean that the entire book isn't a good one, just that we might have to make some minor adjustments. Not to the book, but with ourselves.

As some of you may know, my son has a chronic illness, a rare type of juvenile arthritis (SOJIA). The last two years have been challenging to say the least, with its ups and downs and several hospitalizations due to complications. And right now I'm struggling to juggle everything.

That's why I've had to make the decision that for now I need to allow myself a little more breathing room. After over three years of sharing photography and thoughts about life here with this incredible community, sadly this will be my last regular post. There have been some recent developments with my son that are making it harder to show up with any kind of inspiration.

I went down memory lane this last week and read some of my posts from the last three years and am taking away with me some of my own advice as I exit stage left (or is it right?) and maybe something might speak to you as well.


To give myself permission to redefine choices of what is and what is not absolutely necessary.

That happiness is accepting where I am, and when I observe what is in front of me I will still be able to see joy dancing.

To make time for nothing, it's where peace and tranquility resides.

That in chaos, life depends on being able grow where I land (or where I'm thrown).

To pay attention to metaphors through my lens, life is constantly teaching me a lesson if I'm willing to listen.

To start out each day with something agreeable, like a rose, and not a thistle.

Focus on the gift of today, it has no shelf life.

Do not take for granted that gratitude can lead me through a day.

To remember that sometimes the more I chase things, the less likely I am to find it.

I am going to allow myself to be in the stillness of a space without a plan.

That art can be used for healing. That pain can be turned into something beautiful. To see the silver lining in the things that feel so hard.

To remember to look a little harder, to take a little extra time, to dig down deep, to find the good in the places that are the most difficult.

And I'm going to do my best to continue looking for beauty beneath the gray days, knowing that there is always something shimmering like gold somewhere.


"Never say goodbye because
goodbye means going away
and going away means
forgetting." -Peter Pan


To this fabulous community of creatives, and to my FOL sisters, it has been a privilege to be a contributor here. I am grateful for our time spent together and our friendships, and for your support. Focusing on Life continues to be such a great platform for sharing our lives and our art and I will still be one of your biggest fans.

So, I'm not going to say goodbye. Just see ya 'round.

Love, Kim xo