Inga S Christianson
Stories (1/0)
Strength in the Shadows
Start writing...Inspirational women in my life have been numerous,however three stand above all others. I was eleven when life drastically changed& I was in desperate need of guidance. My father lost his eight-year long battle with cancer leaving my mom to raise us three children alone. I would never fully grasp the depth of this challenge till I was grown,reflecting back on how we were brought up with love,never having much,but always managing to get by,relying heavily on the shared trama that loss brings. Despite mom's depression&driftlessness that would be a part of all our lives for the next decade,we grew together bonded by our suffering.Death is an amazing glue to those that remain,it was in our case anyway. Our family relying heavily on our humor and sarcasm. My mom's strength&determination to go on has been an inspiration to me my entire adult life.Seven years ago she fought her own battle with breast cancer as my sister&I stood alongside her lost in a fog of disbelief.We all made our way through despite our newest scars. Losing one parent put a profound amount of fear in our minds and hearts as we hoped for the best.It has been five years and we still have our family happily intact with mom being the intracal heart.My younger sister by ten years is not only an amazing inspiration to me,she is my truest friend. Anna was the gift that entered our world when my father was leaving ours. She was six months old when dad died and the one light we had at that dark time.Highly creative,she is an amazing pianoist,painter,and writer. Having a gift as an entrepreneur,she started her own jewelry business at the age of 22,selling her handmade pieces of art at local independent shops and atCrystal Bridges Museum store. Despite her depression&anxiety,she has arisen from the ashes to be a woman that has no recognition of the true inspiration she is. I admire how she continues to fight,despite everyday being an uphill challenge. Anna gives my life color,she adds humor&depth to every day.The world through her lens is such a uniquely beautiful one that I value getting to have a glimpse through. When you are a highly private person who has a small circle of trust,to have a person understand your mind is a raregift. We are true regency era sisters,equally loving to read,create art,take afternoon walks,drinking tea with paintbrushesin hand. Loving our solitude almost as much as each other,the quiet peace of our lives suits us very well. I come from a extensive family with my dad's sister,my aunt Yvonne,soaring to the top of my favorite people list. Standing beside me through the roller coaster of life has been my second mother for as long as I can remember.Living half of my life in central Wisconsin on a farm,she taught me lost skills of survival long before it was popular,besides being a Jill of all trades,it's her kindness that sets her apart as a powerhouse of a woman.Auntie's empathy&love for everyone makes her stand out as an inspiration of what the world is desperately lacking enough of. The values and qualities I admire most are embodied in her,love runs through all of her veins felt by all she meets. How a person treats another person is how I measure quality of character,and in this she taught through example what love is. I feel as women,we all come from a long line of strength,we just have to tap into it,with the realization that it too,resides in each one of us.
By Inga S Christianson4 years ago in Families