She's a Survivor! - Gillian Larson

What an interesting experience this has been. For those of you who didn’t watch Survivor last night, my mom was voted out second! The house has been eerily quiet today despite being filled with family.

My sister and I think it is one of those things where people aren’t sure what to say. I assure you though, we are all OK with the results of the show last night. We have had a few months to adjust to it whereas many of you are going through the thoughts and emotions we felt when we first learned of the outcome.

I can still picture the night we picked her up from her journey to Gabon and hearing a few moments later how and when her journey had ended. I felt sad for the disappointment I was sure she was feeling. This was a quest she had set out on so long ago and it hadn’t ended the way she had planned. It was impossible to remain sad or disappointed for her for long though because it was much more important to focus on what she accomplished rather than what she didn’t accomplish.

As I get older, I realize that many journeys have a different destination that we had thought we wanted. But, when we got there we learned that that destination was just as good, only different. While she didn’t win the million, no one knows if this is the end of this particular journey or perhaps just the beginning. And while the unknown makes so many, many people absolutely crazy, I think that it can be the most exciting and charming part of life.

Too often, we insist on finding out the results so we can prepare ourselves for them rather than just enjoying the moment, experiencing the emotion and figuring it out as we go along.

We had an incredible premiere party last night with over 300 people in attendance! It was very emotional for me as we were setting up for the party to realize what I was a part of. It is not often that you see someone achieve a dream from start to finish. Not only is it unusual to watch first hand, so few people actually set their goals so high and then are able to complete them.

My mom had put together an AMAZING slideshow of her quest to be on Survivor. Man, does that woman embrace life, embrace every experience. I cried harder than I have in a long time watching those pictures because I don’t know if I know anyone else who has lived as full a life, accomplished as much or experienced so many incredible things. What a beautiful life she has made for herself!

Watching the show was very surreal. It was like watching the stories and people my mom had been telling us about for the last months but it wasn’t real to me that I was actually watching Survivor! There were so many stories that were not aired (obviously due to time constraints) and the way they choose to portray her isn’t complete accurate as far as how she is in normal life.

True, it is hard for her to bite her tongue and to sit back quietly. False, that she is a weaker old woman. She is strong, fit, helpful, hardworking and unfortunately that wasn’t portrayed. But as our family saying goes…”What’s life is life.”

For those of you who have been so excited, who have offered such support and enthusiasm, I thank you!! I think the joy so many of you have felt and the shear excitement you have shown for my mom and our family has been so incredible to feel and to see. It has been a reminder of the human spirit, that there are people around you, even people you barely know, who wish good things for you.

As with anything, there have been people who have reveled in the negative of this experience. For you, I hope that you can find satisfaction within your own life so that you no longer take pleasure in the defamation of others. Know that someone else’s achievement of their dreams does not take away your ability to create and accomplish your own.

To my mom…this has been a brilliant experience to share with you. Watching your face those first moments of the show is something I will never forget. The excitement in your voice and the smile on your face that you couldn’t contain was priceless!

You live such an incredibly full life filled with so many adventures. I know you will soon be off on the next adventure, always wanting to experience. I hope that people will feel moved to accomplish something new, whether it is big or small. My hope for you is to remember to put yourself first sometimes.

You deserve a thousand “Survivor” experiences and I know that you will not just sit around waiting for them to happen, YOU will make them happen! Continue to enjoy the ride…

With love and pride,
Kendra