A book that carries a story of a woman who opened her heart because it was too painful not to.
This book is my story of recognizing that there was much more to life than what I had been taught or even understood while growing up. I began to ask so many questions and as I listened to the answers coming to me I realized how important it was to also engage in my daughter's wisdom along the life changing journey that I had chosen to pursue.
This book was written around 10 years ago and has taken that long to give myself the courage to put out to the world what I know and yet was not sure I could put it to print. I guess getting older I have let go of what people think and just want to share my journey in hopes you will be inspired to share your own. I believe we each have a unique story to tell and when we share them others are inspired or open up to share their own and this is where we grow into a community of people linked with all of life. This is truly empowering and life changing so that we may co-create a world of harmony and love.
This book was written around 10 years ago and has taken that long to give myself the courage to put out to the world what I know and yet was not sure I could put it to print. I guess getting older I have let go of what people think and just want to share my journey in hopes you will be inspired to share your own. I believe we each have a unique story to tell and when we share them others are inspired or open up to share their own and this is where we grow into a community of people linked with all of life. This is truly empowering and life changing so that we may co-create a world of harmony and love.
We are older and wiser and still learning together
Since the book was written 10 years ago I used a picture from that time. As you can see we have grown with more heart and laughter. I continue to practice more deeply the messages received and realized that at any time I can open the book and remember I am still learning what transparency really is. I look forward to the day that truth is all there is. There are no more masks to navigate around. I know that someone being able to see through me means that I can only speak truth because they will know if I am not. I look forward to the day that I no longer have to figure out if someone is speaking the truth for I will see through them and life will be so much easier. Wow this would mean that we would have energy for co-creative ideas floating around that just makes us happy inside.
I believe it is time to honor our stories no matter what they are. We are amazing human beings and it is time to remember the empowerment that comes from self-love.
If anyone wants to share their journey please feel free to email me at
scherschelrm@yahoo.com
I believe it is time to honor our stories no matter what they are. We are amazing human beings and it is time to remember the empowerment that comes from self-love.
If anyone wants to share their journey please feel free to email me at
scherschelrm@yahoo.com
Update 8/11/2013
Lisetanne has turned 18 and has launched her own life without mom close by. On June 1st 2013, on her 18th birthday she arrived in NYC with all her belongings and her dog Mia. She found her apartment, and a new career as prep chef in the heart of Manhattan The quote below she posted on Facebook on 8/9/2013. I believe she is finding her own way in life.
"About a year ago I sort of snapped out of it and appreciated that I had control over my circumstances and that is a privilege. I count that as the start of my focus in life. I want to get to a place where I am not hurting anything or anyone and I feel 100% good and pure in who I am. I'm choose to wake up every day because people make me smile and I make them smile and I think that means my life is good already. But I'm still trying to master this To-Do list...
1. Love Unconditionally
2. Allow yourself to be loved Unconditionally
3. Be sincerely kind
4. Be honest
5. Seek truth
6. Do not judge
7. Forgive
8. Give people the benefit of the doubt
9. Trust completely
10. Do the things that make you happy, and without guilt"
By Lisetanne Sterling Scherschel
"About a year ago I sort of snapped out of it and appreciated that I had control over my circumstances and that is a privilege. I count that as the start of my focus in life. I want to get to a place where I am not hurting anything or anyone and I feel 100% good and pure in who I am. I'm choose to wake up every day because people make me smile and I make them smile and I think that means my life is good already. But I'm still trying to master this To-Do list...
1. Love Unconditionally
2. Allow yourself to be loved Unconditionally
3. Be sincerely kind
4. Be honest
5. Seek truth
6. Do not judge
7. Forgive
8. Give people the benefit of the doubt
9. Trust completely
10. Do the things that make you happy, and without guilt"
By Lisetanne Sterling Scherschel
Adoption Day 21 years later, 2016
On September 21st, 21 years ago Lisetanne and I stood in front of a judge that declared that we were forever connected to each other through the official adoption in the state of Indiana. Friends and family stood by to witness and also declare their support. I knew 4 months earlier that she was put in my arms to care for and would be there for a very long time. This was just the legal ceremony so that the state knew I would be the one that would provide what was needed for her continual presence on planet earth.
I wish I could say that I have done all of the above with ease and grace. What I know as she embarks on her own path of being an individual facing all the life circumstances that are put in front of her daily that some curve balls continue to challenge her very existence. This also calls me to look back and challenge some of my own biases as a white woman who said yes those many years ago of adopting a black baby at that time. Times have changed and yet some belief systems of racism and other isms still exist. I had hoped it would not be so. Funny how sometimes what is real is not really real just hopes and dreams. I get scared for what could happen to her just because of the color of her skin or her life choices being challenged by narrow and ignorant humans that just can not imagine human life here to be celebrated by all.
Lisetanne continues to challenge me and others around her of biases held. I see this amazing and committed black woman working through some of the past traumas that I put in front of her out of my own ignorance and hopeful wishes that loving this child was enough. Loving her is not in question here. Supporting her is not in question here. Belief systems not my own are in question here.
I let go of my expectations and meet her where she is. I must acknowledge my own limited beliefs and continue to work toward the healing of long held racial convictions by humans everywhere that we sometimes do not even realize exist until challenged by another culture other than our own.
We celebrate Adoption day every year as a reminder of our commitment to each other and to the growing of a human race that embraces each other as vessels full of a bouquet of flowers. What a beautiful scene that brings smiles to many.