The Passage of Time

This weekend I was fortunate enough to have my brother, his girlfriend and my nephew in town for a visit. As we have now lived in different cities for more than 15 years, we only get to see each other about once a year.

This visit was really meaningful for me. Something was different. Something was better. My brother, after several years of challenges and uncertainty is on the verge of happily ever after.

The weekend seemed to illuminate the passage of time and a vivid awareness that some things will always remain the same, while others will change. And when things change it is usually for the better.

The things that remain the same provide a foundation.

There is the bond between a sister and her younger brother. From constantly teasing me about anything he can, to the wrestling and tickling. Boy the payback from once being bigger and stronger, holding him down to tickle him will haunt me until we are too old to wrestle.

There were also several moments of reflection about our father and funny things he would say or do. Only my mother, sister and brother can really fully appreciate those things. My sister and him are the only ones who share in the understanding of who he was as a father. That will never change.

These are some of the pieces that will forever remain the same. Yet, what was even more evident to me this weekend were the changes.

Although he is six years younger and will forever be my “baby brother,” he is now a man. He is an amazing father and he is an amazing partner to the woman he has consciously chosen to create happily ever after with.

Yes, he is very successful in his career and lives a comfortable life and for that I have always admired him. But what is different is the sense of peace and happiness he now has. It is like he has found his way home.

It feels like not too long ago we would talk about the uncertainty and how badly his heart yearned for things to work out. It felt like so much time had passed. It felt like time was standing still. But he never gave up. He believed in what was in his heart and he followed that.

I couldn’t be happier for or prouder of him. Who knew my younger brother would grow up and be an inspiration to me.

The lesson for me is that some things are meant to stay the same and some things are meant to change. That with change usually comes something better. And most importantly, although there may be many days when you question if you will find your way to happily ever after, it is achievable. You just have to trust in what your heart whispers.