Dear Mom,

“I want to know what passion is. I want to feel something strongly.” – Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

Earlier this month, I flew to Boston to watch and support my mom as she was a keynote speaker for Strongwater Farms, an equestrienne therapy non-profit. This organization is one of the many that Maureen has helped to bring awareness to the surrounding communities of her hometown in Tewksbury, Mass., of the adverse and horrific effects of violence and domestic abuse. This is a cause she has been an advocate for her whole life, but in the past three years she put her passion into action and has made a huge difference in many lives. Her story is a heart wrenching but inspiring one, and throughout my life I don’t think I could really appreciate that until I’ve watched her turn tragedy into action and become a voice for people who have lost theirs in their own traumas.

This isn’t a post about her story, nor even her organization (which you can read about here), but it’s an appreciation for the person who I see today. Since graduating university, I’ve become a bit obsessed with finding “the right thing”. What’s my passion? What am I doing? Where am I going in life? As if there’s one golden answer that I’m constantly in search of, but is somehow always out of reach. Seeing Maureen find such fiery passion and purpose later on in life has given me a sense of relief. She has come so far in so many ways, from being a Toast Master’s novice to an award-winning public speaker, and rallying a group of amazing people to make a meaningful difference. As for me, she has unglued the imaginary hourglass from the table in my mind marked “FIND YOUR PURPOSE NOW OR ELSE!!!”, and has helped me realize that though time may or may not be an illusion, the truest illusion is the one we put on ourselves to find that one thing, that white whale, that is just a fabric of our imagination, keeping us from seeing what’s perhaps been in front of us all along. Letting go of that mindset might prove to be difficult, though now it’s a journey I’m no longer trepidatious, but excited to venture on. I try to find inspiration in many things, but I am continually inspired by the woman who gave me life, and grateful every day to be her daughter.