Recently, my family has received some challenging news about my father’s condition. As a result, there is going to be a necessity for me to be more of a mature and independent adult. As much as I want to ignore the fact that things change, they do, and reality can hit you in an instant.

Throughout my life, there has been the continual understanding that my parents were going to be able to do each thing for me. However, things change and as hard as it is going to be, I must be able to face reality and realize that I must not only be a team player, but also be willing to mature more along with the willingness to carve a piece of my own life as the reality of my parents aging is coming more into my vision.

There must also be the understanding that I cannot coerce my loved ones into deciding based on my needs alone. I do realize that I am often self-centered and feel like my needs come first, however there is a reality that parents age, things happen and the dynamic changes. I have made leaps and bounds in becoming independent, and now looking at things I am grateful that I have even made the venture to living independent. Having independence also means that I can live my own life without my parents.

There are issues with anxiety when it comes to doing that do not involve my parents. In the past few years, I have made several excuses when it comes to not wanting to do things to boost my community involvement. Granted, I do work and go to day service, however it does not fill some of the other voids in my life that bring feelings of loneliness and isolation. I also know that it is perfectly acceptable for me to be the person that I need to be all while being more independent, there is often a great lack of wanting to engage in things that expend energy that I may not want to do like going to the gym or to a community event.

Reality has struck deep, and that right soon. There is a want to make the situation that I have been handed everything about me, however there is also an opportunity to open new doors if I allow myself to go that route. I know that it can be a lonely world out there, but I know that there are also opportunities if  let down my guard that is held by my anxiety and open myself up some to what the world has to offer me.

I must disregard the belief that I am at my destination at life just because I feel comfortable with how things are. The reality is that things change, in a matter of minutes and while it may be hard to digest what must be faced initially, there is also the reality that life is just what it is and we are held the hand that we are dealt, whether we like it or not. I am an intelligent person and if I want to make my life better, I know I can. I just must have the willingness to do it because I know that the present situation will not be here forever.