Rheal 042523

I spent a lot of time reflecting on the last post. I must admit, it gave me pause and triggered some of the grieving I am still working through with the loss of my father. Thank you, Jay for bringing this up in our ‘conversation.’ Rheal: Carefree, active volunteer, veteran, father/grandfather/greatgrandfather, woodworking hobbyist and wonderful partner to my mom. He has come to introduce me as one of his daughters. He doesn’t care for me because he loves my mom and I’m her daughter, but he cares about me simply because I’m me! He demonstrates this care by taking an interest and active role in my life. He is supportive and kindhearted and has embraced my partner like family. He participates in my world in ways that my own dad just wasn’t able to. It takes me aback at times—and I am discovering that as much as I love and miss my father, I have been avoiding grieving the things that I yearned for from my dad and did not receive. Things I am receiving now. It has taken me a long time to understand that Rheal is helping me grieve those hard parts and find forgiveness. He is there, holding my hand, lifting me up, making me laugh, fathering me in the way that I need at this stage of my life. This has come naturally, and I am not even sure he is fully aware of his positive, healing influence in my life.