I realized today that I can let go now.
That in spite of all the unhappy memories that have surfaced since my mother died in 2006, and the conflict that has settled between me and my abusive father and the distance that has grown between me and my sister, I still have a pretty wonderful life. The universe has blessed me over and over again through it all.
The bad memories are just that...memories. I realized that there are happy moments to remember (although it saddens me that my parents and siblings were not part of most of those happy moments.)
I sense that there has always been another force, energy, spirit watching over me and leading me. Call it God, the Universe, the Holy Spirit, my Guardian Angel or my Spirit Guide, I haven't been able to name it yet. I just know that I can look around me and see that I've lived a pretty wonderful life.
And for that I am very, very grateful.