Do you know what your defining moments are? We all have them, those marks on the timeline that separate our lives into before and after. If you stop to think about it you probably have many. I certainly do; the moments I got married, the signing of divorce papers, the births of children and without a doubt the death of my father are all forever etched in my memory. As I look back over the 40+ years of my life, one moment clearly stands out as having had the most life-altering impact and serves as a checkpoint in my existence. On October 13, 1989 @1:28 PM life as I know it vanished, to be replaced by a fresh, uncertain reality. 21 years ago I became a mother. That’s it. A simple declaration, yet more than a label, it was an indescribable alteration of reality.
I think in our society we often give the importance of motherhood lip service, but for me truly, in a single second, the trajectory, focus and purpose of my life shifted. My views on religion, politics and the role of women dramatically changed. My goals and dreams were drastically transformed. The way I viewed life was now child-centered and then world-centered, rather than self-centered. I encountered fears and worries that had never plagued me before. Of course there was love that I was completely unprepared for and a strength and fierceness that I could not have envisioned. In that defining moment I became more; more caring, more determined, more thoughtful, more purposeful. And yes, I correspondingly became more anxious and more fearful at times. I became more of the person I was meant to be. My life is divided into halves; the 21 years before and the 21 years after. The funny thing is when I think back now I can hardly remember life before. My life has become all about life after.
In one lightening flash of an instant my heart cracked wide open and life rushed in…
Your guide to living well in every area of life. Freelance writer, Life Fulfillment Guide, Idea Curator, Life balance mentor, Productivity junkie, Book Addict. 
