The Moment Has Come!

I’ve been struggling with how to best describe my Momentum experience this past July & today I got my answer.

You see, every Momentum participant is asked to write a letter to themselves reflecting back on their experience from why they embarked on the journey to what they learned from it. That letter would then appear a few months later at their home & bring back all the feels…and tears.

Today, my letter arrived & so did my reason for finally sharing my journey with you!

It read -in the most embarrassing handwriting I might add- as follows…

Hey Alya,

First of all, you are awesome!

You made the goal of going to Israel in celebration of your 50th and you did it! The journey was everything you wanted it to be and you met some incredible women along the way. I want to say/write something about each one but right now it’s 9:25 and there is no time, rush rush rush…( :

People keep asking you why you are always smiling so I’m going to try and put it in writing. To me, life as it is today, is fulfilling, full of potential and uncertain all at the same time. I love that it’s not perfect. I also know that I have 2 options: to smile or not to smile so if it makes me happy & makes others happy, why not ( :

I miss my boys but feel like it was the right thing/time for all of us so I guess you can say that I took this trip for all of us. For me, so that I can become a better wife, mother & friend. For them, so that they can miss me ( : appreciate me ( : and benefit from the “new me.”

I’m not expecting this experience to have significant impact on our family life but I do think that it will be a great step for me, Phil & Jacob to reset after what was a very challenging year for everyone.

Finally, I hope that by the time I read this, my family sees the change/the good/the best of me. I also hope that the friendships made on this trip are still there bigger & better than ever!

Enjoy the rest of your trip, love yourself & happy 50th!!!

XoXo, Alya

Did I mention that after a +1yr break, Momentum is back & we, along with the remarkable Healthcare Heroes & Mother’s of Lone Soldiers, were the few lucky ones that Israel opened its’ doors to!

Catch me at 4:32 & 5:52 in the video and go to their website to start your Momentum journey!