BREAK THE CYCLE
BY TRAVIS AKERS
I recently installed bird feeders in my backyard at the request of my wife, who had completed her year-long project of constructing a garden for us to enjoy. One evening in early June, as the warm Florida sun began to set, my wife and I watched in silence on our patio as the birds swooped back and forth, taking turns at the feeders, gathering their final meal of the day. While captivated by the flights in and out, the sounds of nearby squirrels chattering, and the chirps of crickets and other summer bugs, the silence was shattered as my wife grabbed my hand and in an unexpected moment said, “You have broken all of the
cycles you wanted to break.”I was caught by surprise, and with confusion, I asked, “what do you mean?” She replied, “Your family’s alcoholism, physical and emotional abuse, and spending time with your children.” I was stunned and sat for a moment to digest the words that had just been spoken. And it dawned on me at that moment, that she was right. I had set out to break the repetitious cycles of toxic family history, and I was able to claim victory in that battle. My wife had coroneted the achievement of breaking these cycles, and a sense of validation and vindication began to settle in my soul.
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