Throughout our lives, people come and go.  Sometimes making a major impact, but always touching our lives in some way—even when the ‘lesson’ may not be revealed to us until well afterwards.  If at all—when we are not listening.

Traveling along my path I have gained many experiences and lessons to be more aware of the wonder of each of these encounters and have accepted that people or events arrive to us for a reason, season or lifetime.  For the most part I can fully accept that when a relationship ends, it is for the best, and each soul or at least one, had attained the lesson or sacred contract it needed to learn.

Even those who appear to be major dream stealers, energy zappers have been a player in our play to show us our choices and lessons so we can move closer to our dreams and potential.  I know they have served me to find my own desires, especially when they tell me what I cannot do.

The biggest challenge I have in letting go is with family.  I remember all my teachers saying, ‘delete the dream stealers’  ‘surround yourself with positive successful people’ ‘let go of the past’ ‘go with the flow’ ‘ work with those who are looking for what you have to offer’ and many more.

Why is it nearly impossible to disconnect from those who have disconnected from us?  There is still the child within us all that needs to be loved by our families, and even knowing and accepting who they are and have been, does not fill that void.   The approval of our colleagues, friends and customers is not enough; yet, we still deeply long for approval from where it never has come before.

Personally, I still struggle with this a lot.  Being estranged from all of my family for nearly 15 years, I still feel devastated on birthdays and holidays, especially when previous repeated rejections prevent any positive movement and healing.

Now, I am experiencing both physical and emotional separation.  Earlier in my life it was only emotional.  I struggle to decide which felt worse.  Having them so close and not being able to receive what was needed or move myself away in self-protection.  Their behavior is the same as it was before and continues to be.   It is my self worth that leads me to no longer accept the lack of emotional availability and needed to remove myself in order to not expect something to happen that has never happened before and that is still not being heard.

I have seen where some people will not acknowledge the existence of those who have hurt them.  But I wonder if this ever works?  It would seem that you would be constantly carrying that casket and the pain will always be there.

There may never be a time when I will be able to separate myself completely from them even though it appears they have.  I am hopeful to learn from your experience in what you have done to come to a better acceptance of family estrangement so that you develop work arounds to heal yourself.