Losing a loved one is always difficult, no matter how stoic or hardened one may seem to be. When I was thirteen, I lost someone very dear to me, but unlike most people, I was able to receive her back into my life. My mother left my life for an extended period of time due to a lack of trust and respect in my parents’ relationship. This event necessitated not only a growth in my maturity but also of my understanding of the world.

When my mother left, I was shattered. My father had secretly developed a pornography addiction and my mother felt her trust had been abused. My mother needed time to reevaluate their marriage. She left and a palpable vacuum needed to be filled. Grocery shopping, washing dishes, and cooking dinner all became responsibilities shared by everyone in the household. When my mother returned, my parents’ love was rekindled. She was subsequently welcomed back into our lives and we never took her for granted again.

My parents’ separation occurred because an atmosphere of open trust did not exist between them. My father’s years of secrecy came to light and their feelings towards one another seemed initially irreconcilable. However, their eventual reunion reminded them of their love and devotion to one another. Their marriage was fully restored and strengthened as a result of this potential catastrophe. Honesty became the premise of their relationship and this permeated the entire family and those around them. 

For me personally, losing my mother was the worst possible experience I could have ever endured. Life had lost its solace and I had to get by without her wisdom and guidance. I realized how much she was worth to me and gained a new appreciation for all people, life, and honesty in general. Never again would I view such things nonchalantly. I began to view life through a different lens, which allowed me to face any problem and challenge as well as be more accepting of people’s flaws.

This experience had a profound impact on my life because it forced me to be more independent. The removal of my mother from my life brought me much dismay yet joy. Her being gone was the greatest trial I had ever surmounted but brought great positive consequences. My new appreciation for others and increased gratitude for the little as well as big things in life were unforeseen blessings and welcomed enhancements to my personal development.