A Child Loss. A Mother’s Pain Turned Into Honor.
Today I write you about the loss of my daughter Elle and what that loss has taught me.
Before I lost my daughter, I would have looked as honor as the definition is stated.
Honor: High respect shown for a special merit, recognition or esteem.
Now, honor has a new meaning for me.
Honor: A great privilege to help Elle’s life matter.
When I found out I was pregnant I was over the moon. Things for me were thriving. I had finished my 1000 days of gratitude, met my forever man, built my coaching practice with amazing woman in leadership, and was about to embark on writing my first book. You can imagine my excitement finding out I was topping off this incredible year with the thing I wanted most of all, my own child.
Unfortunately, my excitement was short lived. Soon after we found out we were having a precious girl, my first and only daughter, I received a call from my doctor that changed everything. I was told that Elle was very sick. The kind of sickness not compatible with life. It was at this moment that my world turned upside down and everything came to a standstill.
Delivering Elle stillborn was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. I had to say goodbye to the girl that made my world complete. However, through this heartbreak I was shown a mother’s love. A love so strong and powerful it has forever changed me.
I have struggled over the last few months on how to move forward and decided that honoring Elle would be my best way to heal. My beautiful Elle’s feet may have never touched this earth but her heart will.
Elle has helped me to better understand the path we are striving to walk and the ultimate elixir of joy I believe most of us are in search of.
She has taught me that though accomplishments are wonderful, the true joy comes in the journey of life. We focus so much on the destination when in reality it never seems to be the one, we set out for.
Stop and listen to the root cause of the noise. It’s in that noise that life is trying to teach us something.
You have a choice in how you interpret this noise. Like the old adage says “if you don’t like what you see then change the lens”. The same goes with our thoughts, goals and people you surround yourself with.
Bad things happen to everyone. A loved one will die, you’ll get sick, someone will mistreat you. The list goes on... When adversity strikes, we have two options. Accept what is or suffer. When we accept what is and forgive ourselves for not being able to control the situation, we pave the path to mourn and heal. Once you take action, you can let go of the outcome and just try your best.
For me, I do this by honoring Elle. She is my strength now and is helping me to find purpose again. She has helped turn my pain turn into honor.
Meredith Wailes is the president of Bloom Leadership.
Her goal is to eliminate suffering in the workforce by creating exceptional value and growth for business and entrepreneurs.
For more information on how we achieve this please check out Bloom Leadership.
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