elizabeth lesser

Photo: Melinda Josie

1 of 5
"It's human nature to resist change, to run around like 2-year-olds saying 'No! No! No!' when things we didn't order show up. But while unforeseen events are hard to deal with, adding a tantrum makes them harder. My younger sister died recently after a long battle with cancer. Every time I feel the tide of No! rising in my heart, I catch myself. I sit down, close my eyes, put my hand on my chest, breathe, and whisper, 'Yes.' Yes, this happened. Yes, I can face it. Yes, I will feel the loss and not fight the grief. Because I've found that the changes I feared would ruin me have always become doorways, and on the other side I have found a more courageous and graceful self."