She learned

She learned that her stubbornness can be a virtue but there are times and certain things that she must let go of. For her own sake, she must release the feelings evoked because of other people’s actions.

She learned that doing this would not be easy. She has to accept the person for who they are. Even if she does not agree. Even if there are parts of them that are dark and hurt her at times.

She learned that she should never, ever feel guilty about any of this. Because they are their choices, their decisions, and they have nothing to do with her.

She learned that she could not change their minds. She can only open up the door for them, show them what else is out there, and hope that by doing so they step through the door and enter a whole new world of possibilities.

She learned that life is not always easy. But what is great is that life is always something. That means that life keeps on going. And that is beautiful.

Conversation

It is not always easy to say the words

To open up

To express how you feel

Happiness and sadness

Two very opposite feelings

Yet both equally important for our soul

We must take the steps

to have open conversations

Communicating with one another

is a healing power

that cannot be measured

Breaking hearts mend

Souls strengthen

Smiles form

Conversations remind us we are not alone

They allow us to drain the hurt inside of us

And they bring us together

Open yourself up to the healing that occurs

when conversations are taking place

Allow yourself to be vulnerable

It is in these moments of vulnerability that 'you' will be seen

Nothing is more powerful than being seen

angel

As tears soaked my cheeks

You stopped to wipe them away

You gave me a friendly smile

And an understanding look

I did not even have to say a word

for you to know I needed you

You sat with me and listened

You never judged me

You saw me

For who I was

In that moment

And what I was feeling

Right then, right there

You held my hand

You held my heart

You helped to heal me

You are my angel

My light in the darkness

"The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are"

~ Joseph Campbell

all of you

photo taken while driving home and smiling thinking of all of you

Do you know what you guys do to me

Each time a comment appears from you

Or when a card arrives in my mailbox

Do you know how my heart sings

When a simple text messages is sitting in the palm of my hands

Or a little note appears

I sit here smiling

Thinking of all of you

And all the ways you brighten my days

Sometimes when I need it most

When my heart is sad or I just need to smile

One of you will appear, as if you knew

It is amazing how connected we all are to one another

There is no distance to far

for two heart and souls to connect

Words cannot convey this feeling

This heart swelling pride

That sings inside of me

I am a better person because of all of you

I am stronger, braver, and I smile more often

I am happy because I have you guys in my life

Thank you for being my little angels

For watching over me, loving me,

And seeing me

I adore you

I admire you

and I love you

The Truelove

The Truelove

~David Whyte

There is faith in loving fiercely

the one who is rightfully yours,

especially if you have

waited years and especially

if part of you never believed

you could deserve this

loved and beckoning hand

held out to you this way.

I am thinking of faith now

and the testaments of loneliness

and what we feel we are

worthy of in this world.

Years ago in the Hebrides

I remember an old man

who walked every morning

on the grey stones

to the shore of baying seals,

who would press his hat

to his chest in the blustering

salt wind and say his prayer

to the turbulent Jesus

hidden in the water,

and I think of the story

of the storm and everyone

waking and seeing

the distant

yet familiar figure

far across the water

calling to them,

and how we are all

preparing for that

abrupt waking,

and that calling,

and that moment

we have to say yes,

except it will

not come so grandly,

so Biblically,

but more subtly

and intimately in the face

of the one you know

you have to love,

so that when

we finally step out of the boat

toward them, we find

everything holds

us, and everything confirms

our courage, and if you wanted

to drown you could,

but you don't

because finally

after all this struggle

and all these years,

you don't want to any more,

you've simply had enough

of drowning,

and you want to live and you

want to love and you will

walk across any territory

and any darkness,

however fluid and however

dangerous, to take the

one hand you know

belongs in yours.

I listen and I see YOU

I listen to your stories, your heart ache, your tears,

your dreams, your worries, and your fears

I listen to not only what you have to say

but I listen to how you feel

I digest it

Soaking in each morsel

I listen to what you do not want to say

What you are afraid to say

And what you think you never will say

I listen to that little voice that wants to jump outside of your soul

And open up your eyes to a whole new world of possibility

I listen to the pain that pours out of your eyes,

even when you are not talking about it

And I listen to the emptiness that you feel is inside of you

I listen to everything

But what I see is so different than what you say

I see you

Strong

Brave

Bold

Beautiful

Loving

Tender

Kind

Caring

I see this strong women standing before me

Doing things she never thought she could

Jumping

Flying

Spreading her wings and opening her heart up to the world

I see your soul radiating light

I see your smile guiding you through each day

I see you

All of you

adventure

This adventure is your own

each step you take

leads you somewhere

you do not even have to know where you are going

your intuition will guide you

all you have to do is listen

Take a deep breathe

smile

and step into the life that is yours

you

Always remember

that even when you think

who you are or what you do

does not matter

that it does

It matters to so many people

You touch the lives of others

without even realizing it

every single day

Your smile brings hope to strangers

The kind look in your eyes

makes other not feel so alone

You are a shining star

You radiate a beautiful light

Never forget this

Ever

Life

wedding ring

Awhile back I declared to save the only thing I was able to save ~ my life. I set out on an exploration, an excavation into my heart and souls inner desires. I vowed to myself to find out what it is that truly moves me. What really makes me happy. What I stand for. I explored my thoughts, dredged up the past, and tried to piece meal it all together.

This declaration was at first stated silently and without me even knowing. It was brewing inside, manifesting slowly and yet my mind could not even grasp the concept. Over time I grew more conscious of this thought. I focused on my bravery, the sadness that took hold in eye opening moments, and the happiness that just seemed to unfold before me.

I declared that I wanted to celebrate myself in the form of declaring that I was the one I have been waiting for.

I was the one I have been waiting for. All this time of searching for someone, thinking I needed a partner to lean on, being fearful to step out and take the leap, afraid of knowing who I was. All this time it was right there within me. My courage, my passions, my desires, my wants. The answers to all of the questions I had always asked myself ~ like what made me happy, what did I stand for, what was I passionate about. The whole time the answers were in me just waiting to be discovered, nurtured, and tended to. When you take the time to care for something it grows and when you truly nurture and love it, it blossoms in ways you never thought possible. Mind blowing, exhilarating, magical ways.

By taking the time to tend to myself I was growing. I grew strong, brave, and courageous. I put myself out there. I took chances. I trusted that everything was going to work out. I trusted that it was all going to fall into place as it should. And somehow that is exactly what did happen. It all fell into place and it all seems to be working out. Life is such a magical place.