Moving On

I have not published any writing on this blog in several months. Thoughts have remained in "my documents" due to recent personal and professional changes, which explains this specific blog entry. I will refrain from rambling, but look forward to expressing so many things in writing and will try to do this more often.

Moving On---two words so frequently used during transitional periods of life. Possibly moving on from job to job; moving on after the death of a family member; moving on after a natural disaster; moving on forgetting about the person you loved. Yes, we move on...but do we truly keep going without remembering the places and people we leave behind? Do our memories move with us or are they stored safely away to never travel again past a certain destination?

People move on every day, it is part of life. If we do not move on, we are not going forward, and forbid if we ever move backwards. We cannot relive the past, nor dwell on the present or predict the future.

A month ago, I sat in a Uhaul truck. My family and friends would be shocked to know this fact since I am the country girl who cannot even parallel park in a regular sedan. So of course it was going to be a challenge to drive a vehicle this size and not even have a rear view mirror! I was just hopeful the side mirrors would guide my way safely down Highway 64. This truck became more than a moving van; it was the transporter of memories for my life as an educator and as an individual.

It held years of students' wax museum projects, bilingual books, scrapbooks of field trips to Washington, D.C., literacy station activities, math notebooks. All thrown in tubs and boxes ready to ride down the path towards a new professional journey. I am forever grateful for two close friends and colleagues who laughed at how much was in the corner of a classroom, but never questioned why each box still needed to be loaded. I could vividly remember the time of my life when reading a specific children's book and why that story was chosen. Yes, I would agree with my sister that most of this "stuff" was junk and needed to be purged, but each box represented me as a dedicated teacher. Each student letter and photograph defined who I am right now and strive to be in the future.

This transporter of memories also hauled furniture from a beautiful home in a country club suburb community. The new flat screen televisions and expensive video equipment stayed, but the family heirlooms that have been passed down through generations were loaded. The china dishes and pottery were wrapped neatly in bubble wrap, just like it had been packaged by the young married couple six years ago. The wedding album and portraits were placed carefully in boxes knowing these pictures would never be viewed again. The Christmas decorations that were used for so many joyous holiday celebrations would be stored with hope that they will be displayed in a new home.

The task of unloading this truck was physically straining with numerous heavy containers and several emotions flowed with each moment that was shared within these boxes. Memories of a life were moved in a few hours and were piled high in an empty living room. Even though it was an overwhelming feeling of where to start first, I knew this was a fresh beginning.

Which brings me back to the question, "What is moving on?" Is it...

-Relocating to a different place with the emphasis of a simple life and not worried about daily conveniences such as cable television or Internet?

-Trying to find kindness instead of anger to deal with financial burdens and hurtful lies?

-Understanding that it is okay to recall the good times and smile at those memories while others are made?

-Remembering what life has to offer and traveling to new places?

-Appreciating the people who show continuous love and support and never need an explanation?

-Reassurance that everything happens for a reason and happiness will be found again?

Not having a rear view mirror in the Uhaul truck allowed me to not look back and to remind me about the importance of MOVING ON...