Aurora in the Night

I believe in the sun, even when it fails to shine. I believe that however tarnished a soul may be there is always a glimmer of hope that perseveres on. Until recently, I had never really taken into consideration the thought of drastic lifestyle changes with the deteriorating economy. Through my slow demise of innocence, I witnessed the world around me shifting into a fine frenzy.

My whole life has been constructed around an aura of courage and a definite sense of stability. Thus, when my Mother’s twenty year career of success amounted to one drastic phone call and a cheap “we’re sorry” line, my naïve world was nearly obliterated. My Mom is virtually one of the only people I know that has achieved phenomenal things in life, but still retains an incredible amount of modesty. Everything she had worked for, from putting herself through college and law school to hoisting her way to the top of the totem pole had vanished like that of a shooting star.

The month following her job loss, I truly believe that I experienced my Mother. I realized I was selfish before. I had seen my Mom for what she could offer me: clothes, money, essentially all the delectations associated with life. Now I see her for not just a mother, but a spirited woman, a real individual with astonishing qualities. This woman, who would put the happiness of a complete stranger over that of her own, certainly played the role of stay at home Mom to its fullest. But as much as I hate to admit it out of my own greed, she despised it. She belonged in a working environment where coffee, corner offices and tedious lunch meetings are all undeniably cherished.

As a month passed the scarce job market grew destitute. Evidence of luck came in the form of a job offer my Mom was overly qualified for and a new income of about half of what she had previously earned. I believe that seeing is not always believing. Sometimes the most real things in life are those we cannot see; that through struggles of darkness, we develop courage.

What my family and I experienced could be compared to darkness. There was no guarantee that we would make it through the next month or continue to live the lifestyle we had so ignorantly cherished. My Mom uplifted our spirits and painted a new picture, a new picture with faith outlining the sun. Certain situations, whether good or bad, strengthen the warrior. There may be darkness but eventually light will break through. Like a drug induced high, my perception of the world has been illusory and my slow demise from a child to an adult has carried me away from the realities of life. Yet I know irrevocably in my heart that there is always a new day on the horizon.