To all the lovely people who left this earth too soon
How can life feel so long one day, yet short the next?
I wanted to tell you several things before you left
Please believe me, my heart said what it could at the time
I’m just grateful for having the chance to say goodbye
Last night I went outside and looked up to the heavens
I read a poem that said when someone dies, you throw your grief to the sky
The Universe responds and paints that sky shades of pinks and purples
At some point, anger sounds like thunder and sadness feels like rain
Even the wind feels like you are near and just walked past me
Letting go is an ongoing journey
Reminiscing about times together and feeling grateful for precious moments
They say when someone dies, they become your guardian angel; especially a child
If I ever have a question, I know I can ask you anytime
Now you are pain-free, healthy, happy, safe, and peaceful
Reuniting with the ones you loved and lost once before
I take comfort in believing this for the time being
Envisioning your happiness makes me happy
This is my emotional rescue
Life is interesting how we are more connected than disconnected
I know I’ll see you again one day
We can paint the sky together
But for now, I throw my grief to the ground
To hope and watch happiness bloom on earth once again
As the Universe responds
All my love to you ❤
XX
~ This blog was written for the people close to my heart and for anyone who lost someone close to them. I was inspired by one of my blogging friends Rupali Jeganathan and her beautiful poetry.
Please be sure to check out her amazing words on Instagram @missbookthief or her website www.ko-fi.com/missbookthief
Isn’t it ironic how we feel is sometimes the opposite of what we are truly living in?
Have you ever felt sad while wearing a smile?
Did you ever feel alone in a room full of people?
Have you ever felt angry when everyone is happy?
Have you ever seen the rain? In other words, have you ever been sad? Of course, we are all human, so you are not alone.
But have you ever seen the rain, coming down on a sunny day? In other words, have you ever had something tough or unfortunate happen during the good times? I know I have.
Is it possible to be sad and happy at the same time?
Yes, it is…
Grief is a perfect example of being happy one minute then bursting into tears the next. Our stories are different, but our emotions are the same. We are more similar than we are different but eventually, we get through it all.
Have you ever felt the calm before the storm?
I have, and I’m pretty sure you have too…
You know that gut feeling where something bad is going to happen, you just don’t know what or when.
One thing for sure is that life is full of ups and downs and during the tough times, yes we are going to see the rain coming down. However, it is possible to be happy during these hardships. We have to remember that tough times don’t last forever and things will work out the way they should. The sun always comes out in the end and if you’re lucky, you’ll even see a rainbow. Isn’t a rainbow a sign of good luck? You see, things are getting better already!
That’s why it’s important to have your friends and family close by, to help, guide, and support you because they love you and want what’s truly best for you.
I think this song Have You Ever Seen The Rain, by CCR is an example of how life can be so ironic sometimes. Whenever I’m feeling down, this classic song always picks me up and makes me smile. I hope you are smiling now too 🙂 Happy December everyone, hope it’s been good to you so far!
I love this song and this video and just felt like sharing it with all of you. The beautiful Canadian Tenors perform the legendary Leonard Cohen version of Hallelujah on the Oprah Show. Another beautiful Canadian surprise, Celine Dion pops up during their performance and makes their dreams come true, it’s so cute you have to see it!
This song makes your heart want to cry and smile all at the same time because it’s about the hardships of love. The movie Shrek used this song when Ogre experienced what it was like to feel brokenhearted over his Princess Fiona and both parents and kids around the world witnessed these emotions.
I thought about this song during different times of my life and I’ve used it when something new begins because it brings joy and you can’t help but say Hallelujah! On the other hand, when something ends and its been a long road, the stress of having it over also makes you want to say Hallelujah! Therefore all Hallelujah’s have equal value and for me, this song represents peace, either way.
I hope you can take 5:14 minutes today and enjoy listening and feeling the emotion in this piece while relating to your own life and your own Hallelujah’s. Have a great day! ❤
Her view was mostly of his back
He was far too busy to notice, especially her
When pointed out, he walked away from her
Communication was his weakest link
The emotional abandonment was suffocating and humiliating for her
Being ignored was the worst empty feeling of all
She felt alone and excluded, yet she was with him
The sting of emotional betrayal was overwhelming and nauseating
How could this be happening after everything she gave him
Gone was her independence and confidence during those years
Sadly her efforts to impress went unnoticed
Yet somehow he still benefited from the results
Her head hurt from banging it against the wall
Begging for his attention
She felt she didn’t exist and unimportant, at least with him
Schedules, impressions, ego were his priorities
Invitations elsewhere were taken with pleasure
Decided and enjoyed, leaving her behind
She felt she didn’t have a choice which took away her voice
Until one day a job opportunity came for her in a faraway land
An opportunity not just for her but for the family
To be treated like a queen and highly rewarded for all her hard work
He encouraged her to pursue this adventure
The spotlight had shifted from him to her
It was finally her turn to do more, have more
The law of divine compensation was at play
However, seething jealousy swept in
Robbed her of this happiness, this chance of a lifetime
What did he do?
He backed out, refusing this opportunity for himself Advised her to go alone
His world was far too important to leave behind and support her in this quest
These foolish games were killing her and them
She was so tired of feeling alone
Betrayal came in many forms and shattered her heart one crack at a time
His jealousy and control were building daily over her
That’s when everything changed…
She realized this was not about her but all about him
Like all the other times he abandoned her
And then…. it happened, the day after Valentine’s
A hurling punch of ultimate betrayal slapped her across the face with brute force
Causing physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual harm to her body and soul
He took away Everything from her world
Her cracked heart was broken, bleeding and wailing
The invisible crown she wore fell, and crashed into a wall
Jewels she collected over the years shattered into a million pieces
Lifelessly falling to the floor, she tried to pick them one by one
Screaming, reaching and crying a river of tears
Every act of control on his part felt like she was being strangled tighter and tighter
He was kicking her while she was down; the pain was excruciating
She was unable to get off this emotional roller coaster ride
And it was sucking the life out of her
Her world was rapidly spinning out of control into a downward tornado spiral
She knew this was the end but failed to realize
It was also her new beginning…
Gradually, she picked herself off the floor
Had no idea she was in the driver’s seat
She could finally break free and live her life the way it was intended
With people who care and make time for her in their busy schedule
And don’t take advantage of her good nature
Friends and family gathered round, carried her when she couldn’t walk
Resisted sleep all night until sunrise; stayed and talked with her
Buried the darkness when she needed the light
Spoke for her when she couldn’t speak
Listened when she finally found her voice and the words
Dried her tears when they wouldn’t stop flowing
Made her laugh and smile to cut through the pain
Encouraged her to shake and pound it out through exercise
Books, quotes and songs repaired her soul one phrase at a time
Hugs and virtual hugs meant everything to her
Friends and family became her strength, her lifeline, her everything
Standing by her side through every mind controlling appointment and conversation
Taking her shopping and moving her into her new palace
Helping to re-attach the shining jewels to her invisible crown
And wearing it like a boss knowing she’s worth it, dammit
While carrying on courageously and not missing a beat in her life
Rising strong like a hero and not a poor victim
Pouring out her emotions and detoxifying her soul through writing
Connecting with more friends around the world that inspire and support her
Skype, Hangouts, texts and social media bring friends who are far, close to her heart
She doesn’t feel alone or ignored anymore, she is smiling
Her heart and mind are open, she can breathe again
Finally she disembarks this wild emotional roller coaster ride
Thanking her guardian angels for riding along side with her
This girl is on fire now and has her strength back andmore She walks into the appointment with her pen in hand
Signs the document that changes her life forever and for the better
Her inked signature says it all loud and clear It’s finally over.
And this time…
She walks away with her back to him for the very first time
And rocks it
** A special thanks to Darshith for letting me borrow his awesome idea of adding music to my blog 😉 **Thank you** 🙂 Since this post has a before and after, I chose two songs; Foolish Games by Jewel and Brand New Me by Alicia Keys. Thank you for reading and listening, I know it was long but I just had to get it all out, turn my back, close the door, walk away and move on. Enjoy the music…Life is beautiful. We’re all human.
“The energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard and valued: when they can give and receive without judgment: and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship. We are wired for connection, it’s in our biology. We need connection to thrive emotionally, physically, spiritually and intellectually. The more strongly connected we are with someone emotionally, the greater the mutual force.” ~Brené Brown
In order to truly connect with others, we need to show up. Get out of our own way. Stop listening to the little gremlins inside our head that tells us we’re not good enough.
All types of relationships are based on connection and whether we see and feel that connection or if we don’t. To feel is to be vulnerable, putting ourselves out there. It’s about self-acceptance and knowing we are not perfect and that it’s the imperfections we carry that make us beautiful.
When someone reaches out to another person, they are being vulnerable, courageous and aware of their imperfections. What they are looking for is empathy which is very different from sympathy. Empathy makes us feel like we are not alone and that somebody cares and understands us. We feel connected. Sympathy only drains us and makes us feel even more alone – disconnected. Sometimes it’s not the response that makes things better but it’s the connection. This short and cute 2:53 minute video explains it very well.
If we want deep, authentic connections we need to get out of our own way, start being vulnerable by feeling every emotion and forget about perfection.
Inspiration can be found in so many corners of our lives and one of my favorite places that really touched my heart was on the television show Life Story Project. The show was aired on “OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network” and then unfortunately was cancelled due to network issues. Andrea Syrtash and Dale Curd were the two hosts on Life Story Project and when I saw it was discontinued last year, I decided to write to Andrea to express my love for the show and for her compassionate way of exploring and questioning people’s hearts and lives on the streets of Toronto, Ontario, Canada about real life topics. Andrea quickly responded to me and we connected instantly bringing us to a new found friendship where inspiration and support continues to live on.
Life Story Project is about people’s stories and how connection, courage and vulnerability bring us inspiration and promotes personal growth and development within ourselves. This 4 minute sizzle reel video clip of Life Story Project perfectly describes what the show was all about and I cannot describe it any better than Andrea and Dale. It’s actually something to be felt. After watching the video, please read the interview I was able to have with Andrea where we dig deeper into the details of the show and how inspiration touched her heart and life as well.
JJ: “Can you briefly describe the inspiration behind your show Life Story Project?”
AS: “I was cast to co-host the show and didn’t create it; but my understanding is that the creators (Mitch and Dale) were inspired by the fact that everybody has a story and that we don’t generally take the time to find out about peoples’ experiences. Intimate conversations about life-changing moments took place on a couch placed in the middle of busy parts of the city. This was to remind the audience that life is happening all around us and everybody is experiencing something significant.”
JJ: “What was it like calling out to people to come and sit on the famous purple couch and have a conversation?”
AS: “I’m an extrovert, so it’s not tough for me to engage people in conversation! I did wonder if they’d be open to having an intimate conversation with the cameras rolling; but I think the fact that “OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network” was on our sign and the consent forms helped. Even if people didn’t immediately trust me or my co-host; I think they trusted her and her brand. My co-host and I got rejected a fair bit but I was still surprised that so many people agreed to be interviewed by us and were so open and honest during the recorded conversation.”
JJ: “How did you choose your life topics to talk about?”
AS: “Every episode had a contrasting theme (Triumph & Failure, First Moments and Last Moments, Love & Regret etc). The creators wanted to pick themes we all have running through our lives and show the highs and the lows.”
JJ: “So many inspiring stories were told on your show by the people on the streets of Toronto, you must have felt that inspiration the same as your viewers did like myself. What was it like hearing people be so emotionally vulnerable?”
AS: “Hosting the show was uplifting, inspiring, draining and eye-opening. Viewers saw a small percentage of all the interviews I conducted over the 4-6-week shoot. We generally shot for over 8 hours in the blazing sun and sat down with each guest for anywhere from 10-45 minutes. The stories were incredible and I was in awe of how open, honest, vulnerable and real the people I spoke with were. They were wise and articulate and their experiences had a deep effect on me. I often found it tough to sleep after a full day of shooting as I’d review some of the extraordinary stories I heard! Many stuck with me and I still think of them today…”
JJ: “Was there ever a strange incident that happened when you were trying to recruit people to sit on the couch and talk with you?”
AS: “We decided that we never wanted to convince people to share something that they weren’t comfortable freely sharing. Both my co-host and I have this thing where people easily open up to us and we feel fortunate that people trust us this way; but sometimes we sensed that people shared more than they wanted to! I recall one incident in which a guest mentioned a very personal experience that she had never told anyone and I felt discomfort as she was describing it because I could tell she was uncomfortable. She returned to the set later that day and asked that we wouldn’t air her story. Of course we were happy to oblige. We didn’t want any participant to regret coming onto the couch for an interview…”
JJ: “If you had to pick one inspiring story that you heard, which one would it be?”
AS: “There were so so many inspiring stories. I think about a guest who was deaf and her parents didn’t teach her sign language so she had no way to communicate until she was about 4 years old. She talked about having a voice and not taking it for granted…which was pretty incredible to hear from someone who can’t hear herself speak out loud. I think about the firefighter who almost died in a blaze (intentionally taking off his oxygen mask) because he felt like a failure and how now he teaches other men in service to be vulnerable heroes. I think about the woman who loved her husband so much that their code word for ‘I love you’ was ‘oodles’ and how after he tragically died of cancer in his 30s, she found a letter from him that said he wanted her to find someone who loved her half as much as he did. Honestly, there were moments of inspiration in every interview. It’s tough to pick one!”
JJ: “What day of the week did you tape your show and how many hours did it take?”
AS: “We taped the show every day of the week (as far as I recall)! I had days off since my co-host and I alternated days. The weekend interviews had a different pace than the weekday interviews since people are generally in a different head space during the busy work week…”
JJ: “What were some of the Toronto locations you chose to film your show in?”
AS: “The show was filmed all over the city in locations like The Beaches, Dundas Square, King Street West, The Distillery District, Centre Island and more…”
JJ: “I am very sad that Life Story Project is no longer on the air, as are many fans. Where they can go now to watch some clips?”
AS: “I’m sad about it, too! I’ve heard that occasionally a re-run will air; but episodes aren’t available yet on-demand. There are some clips on YouTube but not all of them.”
JJ: “Do you see a possibility of making a similar show in the near future?”
AS: “I enjoy connecting with real people in a truly unscripted way. Life Story Project was genuinely spontaneous. Even if the guests were briefly pre-interviewed; Dale and I never knew much before the guests sat down to have a conversation with us. I’d love to do more shows that explore human relationships and highlight peoples’ incredible stories.”
JJ: “Andrea you are a relationships life coach, an author and guest speaker on many famous television shows. What was it like co-hosting with Dale on the show?”
AS: “While I hardly worked on set with Dale (we filmed on different days); I really enjoyed working with him on this show. He and I are like-minded and believe everybody’s story matters. One thing that you didn’t see, perhaps, is that Dale and I joke around a lot. We can certainly get serious but we also don’t take ourselves too seriously.”
All of my gratitude to Andrea and everyone from Life Story Project for inspiring my life because in essence, we are all living our own life story project the very best we can. We are all connected, therefore never alone.
Okay seriously, life is full of lessons whether you want to learn from them or not. When you do learn, you expand your personal growth and development and make necessary changes so they don’t happen again. If you don’t learn the life lessons, they will keep happening over and over until you do. They won’t go away on their own. That’s just the way it is…sigh.
No matter what age you are, something happened to you that affected your life and how you reacted to it changed you. It didn’t kill you, it made you stronger. But what if you could have a conversation with your younger self and give advice that would save you time and grief or give you confidence and perseverance in various areas of your life? I know I’ve thought about this and I’d like to share what I know for sure… now.
Dear Jen,
You are 21 years young now and are studying very hard to become a nurse. You have chosen a career path that is helpful and compassionate which aligns with who you are and your core values in life. Yes studying is hard, working in the hospital is hard but never give up because you are on the right path; you’ve got this. Know that every day you will touch a life or a life will touch yours, this is the beauty in nursing.
What if I told you when you graduate you will move to another country to work and travel? Not just once but twice. Nursing can open many doors for you and later on there is another big opportunity coming up that you cannot say no to, in Qatar.
Don’t always expect to be acknowledged and appreciated for all the hard work you do, people are tired and busy in their own worlds but in your heart, just know you are doing your best and in the end, you will be rewarded by Him. Know your own self-worth because if you think you are cheap, people will see and treat you as cheap. Try not to control every outcome, just relax and enjoy the ride because you have so much ahead of you, a world of experiences that will blow your mind!
Life Coaching is in your future which is another beautiful helping profession and by walking this path, you learn so much about yourself in the process and it’s an automatic win-win for you and your clients. You will be so inspired, you will really love this but it takes work to get it going. Don’t give up.
Relationships are complicated but a very big part of your life Jen. Friendships are to be treasured and respected by both sides otherwise, it’s not worth it. Everywhere you go, you will meet new friends and connect well with them for life because of who you are. You have many amazing friends who inspire you so hang on tight they are your rocks during your toughest moments. Don’t forget to be there for them too and love them with all your heart. Sadly, one of your closest friends will be diagnosed with cancer and cannot beat it. However, having known her, changes your perspective on life for the better because you learn to appreciate the little things, slow down and look within yourself for answers to life’s complicated questions. You have all the solutions inside you, just dig deep because they’re all there. You feel a deep sense of gratitude for having known her and you miss her.
Family is another important part of your life and you need to show your appreciation for everything they do for you. Nobody’s perfect and everyone is doing the best they can, just like you Jen. Perfection is a dangerous thing and not even possible so let it go. Imperfections are what make people beautiful including you. It all depends on your perspective, try to look at them as your gifts. Your entire family loves you unconditionally, you love them too and you get along with everyone.
Ah, romance, romance. You have met some really nice guys that showed interest in you so far and you have been interested in some of them. But Jen, you need to have more self-confidence you need to love yourself more. Learn how to be assertive and stand up to the ones who don’t treat you right and hold hands with the ones who do. Don’t get blindsided by flattery, take it for what it is which is sweet. Not every guy will understand your kind heart but that’s ok, it’s not your job to convince him of it. Never let the good guy get away, easier said than done. Romantic involvement is complex and fleeting. Don’t settle for someone, make sure your man adores you, protects you, makes time for you, has the same values as you, has your back on everything and knows how to use a hammer! This will save you a ton of frustration…
What you really want is someone who makes you smile, is proud of you, supports you and inspires you, is emotionally there for you and treats you like his queen. Not a man who drains you or takes advantage of your good nature or abandons you. He will love you with his whole heart by making you his number one priority and not let his external environment control how he feels or acts around you.
He must know his own core values and who he truly is on the inside otherwise he is a chameleon adjusting to every external environment, not a man.
If you are looking for a chameleon, go to Costa Rica.
Make sure he never interrupts you or puts you down in front of other people; he should be singing your praises instead. You are a fine catch young lady and never forget that! 😉
You put everyone’s needs ahead of your own and deep down, you want your needs met too and why not? People pleasing and putting yourself last is killing you without you even realizing it. You need to take better care of yourself so you have the ability to take care of others. Everywhere you go you are a caretaker. Learn to set some boundaries for yourself otherwise people will walk all over you as if you were a doormat. “No” is a complete sentence, remember that my love. And whatever you do, don’t let the opinions of others influence you to the point of doing nothing. You’re better than that.
Be very mindful of selfish people and narcissists in your life. They are your biggest threat because they give subtle red flags and are very good at charming you. Take off those rose colored glasses so you can actually see the color red. They are only interested in themselves so don’t kid yourself into thinking they have something to offer you. They are takers and you are a giver so you are vulnerable in this situation. Be very, very careful.
I know you can’t see it now but your heart of gold will fall in love with one man and two children over the years. Unfortunately heartbreak is in your future but this tragedy has its silver lining. You experience two sides of the same coin but you are a trooper, a real warrior. Facing these various betrayals are the biggest stressors you will go through but it’s not what happens to us in life that determines who we are, it’s how we cope and react to it that counts and you have excellent coping skills. Like grace under fire. You are not a victim so don’t play that role, ever. You might feel like you are all alone in this but you’re not. You are stronger than you realize and you have God in your corner. This is a time for self-compassion and practicing self-care, finally. You have put this off long enough Jen so time to pay attention to yourself. It’s self-discovery time. Be a good example for your kids because they are always watching and taking notes. Learn the lessons here and don’t worry so much, everything is going to be okay.
You really need a vacation, you should plan one.
Writing blogs for you is a positive emotional outlet and an incredibly important way of dealing with stress because getting your emotions out on paper or a screen is cathartic. A wonderful healing tool for all. Not only are you helping yourself but also helping others by letting them know we are all in this together, nobody is alone. An amazing world of bloggers is out there and each person has something beautiful to offer, appreciate each and every one of them from your heart because they are probably fighting a battle of their own you know nothing about. You learn to write your way out of this betrayal and when writing the story of your life Jen, don’t let anyone else hold the pen, own it. You get to write your own ending. On the other side of this fear is freedom so hang in there, you’re doing great. You are finding your inner voice and are finally starting to use it. Better late than never girl!
Exercise has always been a priority in your life but during this time you must keep moving more than ever. The physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits are endless. Exercise helps to get the negative energy out, clear your mind, release those endorphins and make you feel empowered again. You meet more friends along the way who support you and you can’t imagine your life without them because they are just so fun to be with! You learn new activities like Zumba and PiYo which you even become addicted to!
As you make your way through the pain with your kids, your vision becomes clearer and you slowly get your strength back, thanks to your family and friends here and all around the world. Connection has empowered you to stand up for what you believe in and fight for your rights my little warrior. You are getting to know and love yourself more and more each and every day, the butterfly is emerging. One of the greatest lessons you can learn is to practice gratitude, forgiveness and surrender. These are the silver linings in the dark clouds. You will make it to the other side Jen, you are almost there so don’t give up now. Music and lyrics inspire you and give you energy. There’s one song that’s about standing for something and getting stronger which is exactly what you need right now. You need to stand for you. Share this song with your amazing friends and in the meantime…ROAR!
“Smile in your liver” ~ Ketut Leyir
From the movie Eat Pray Love ~ by Elizabeth Gilbert
I saw the movie Eat Pray Love when it first came out in 2010 and I thought it was interesting and great. At the time I was more obsessed with the travel destinations of Italy, India and Indonesia in the movie and the basic story line of how a woman left an unhappy marriage and started over. Having watched this movie again years later with some changes in my own life made me pay very close attention to Julia Roberts’ role and I was listening to the words of precious Ketut like he was sitting in my living room talking to me. He is so amazing, I wish I had my own medicine man. For the record, I am still obsessed with the travel destinations…
“You make serious face like this, you scare away good energy. To meditate, only you must smile. Smile with face, smile with mind, and good energy will come to you and clear away dirty energy. Even smile in your liver.”
Before we try and understand what adorable Ketut is trying to say, let’s review the roles of our liver first and try to understand the meaning behind his quote; “Smile in your liver.”
The liver’s main job is to filter the blood coming from the digestive tract, before passing it to the rest of the body. The liver also detoxifies chemicals and metabolizes drugs. As it does so, the liver secretes bile that ends up back in the intestines. The liver also has the ability to regenerate itself if injured or surgically excised. It is located on the upper right side of your body.
Maybe what Ketut is really saying is smiling in your liver essentially means going deep within yourself to be happy from the inside out. Smiling in your liver filters the negativity coming from your gut feelings and prevents these negative feelings from passing throughout the body. A smile has the ability to dissolve anger and resentment and metabolizes negative emotions while assisting in the decision making process. A smile is also known for removing blockages so that one can forgive, accept and feel kindness flowing. As it does so, a smile triggers endorphin production the “feel good” hormones that end up back in your belly making you feel at peace. Your mind is calm and the smile you wear on your beautiful face is radiant; just like your liver. If your smile is lost or cut off by someone or something, it is not lost forever and can be transformed again. A smile is always right.
You could say it’s about striking a balance in your life and maintaining your personal power. Yoga and meditation can help to slow down the monkey mind and when combined with deep breathing and smiling, your body feels more energized and peaceful. I am currently on this learning journey and yoga is one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself and my smiling liver. Life gets pretty busy and crazy sometimes and we run to keep up with it.
But is that the right thing we should be doing?
Should we pick up the pace a little bit and run even faster?
I don’t think so.
Personally, when life gets that overwhelmingly crazy, the best thing we can do is the opposite – slow down. Seems counterintuitive, right? Well here’s the thing. Not only does slowing down allow us to catch our breath, we can begin to see clearly and we can feel what our body is telling us ie: our gut feelings. Gut feelings never lie and we should pay more attention to them because often times they can guide us in the direction that is most right for us or even re-direct us away from something that is harmful to us. You become more mindful of what you really need. If you don’t slow down and keep running that monkey mind marathon, you will never be able to hear what your life is trying to tell you, or get your attention to pay attention. Stay grounded, slow down and silence your mind because you either control your mind or it controls you. It’s that simple and your liver will thank you for it by smiling deep within yourself. Now I just need to decide when I am going on my next trip!
We are all victims of circumstance but we have a choice of remaining in victim mode or stepping out of it and living our life. Sometimes we can see trouble coming and other times it catches us right off guard sending us into a downward spiral but either way, we need to decide if we want to be happy or not. Initially, it’s natural to feel great disappointment, hurt and grief but it’s not healthy to live there permanently.
Things happen, I’ve seen trouble coming and it has also knocked me off my feet, leaving my head swirling and my heart broken. However, I cannot and will not let that define me. When I read this quote, it was like I heard music and corks popping out of champagne bottles!
To me, darkness represents being deeply disappointed, the hard times, handling tough emotions, the struggle, the pain and even change. Everyone defines it differently depending on what they’re going through. When you think about it, if you try to navigate through the dark without any light, it’s very difficult to see where you’re going or what is right in front of you. You might bump into things, trip over something or even worse, stub your toe which only causes more pain. The other thing about darkness is that it seems to hide us well. Maybe people like the dark for that reason alone. They don’t want any help so they don’t want to be seen. The question comes when that same person endlessly criticizes or complains about their situation but doesn’t do anything to make it better; cursing the darkness. Or maybe they just want to be found by someone, be seen, heard and understood. After all, we all crave connection.
The simple act of shedding some light on the subject can change the entire space where darkness lives. You can see what and who is around you, what is ahead of you and that feeling of being on edge is less. It’s a more comforting, positive response, a new perspective. Igniting a spark inside you is an action step in moving forward because you are no longer thinking about making it better or wishing for it, you are making the effort and doing it. Lighting a candle could mean reading positive daily affirmations, finding activities that bring you joy and doing them as much as possible, practicing gratitude even in the dark moment, trying to find the hidden life lesson inside your situation or reaching out to your support system to help you and accepting their help. It can also mean stop denying and start feeling the pain because the only way out of it is through it. When you decide to do this, your mind shifts from controlling to allowing and your body shifts from stress to peace. It doesn’t magically disappear but it certainly becomes more manageable. Having an open mind and an open heart changes a negative into a positive with an intention to do so. Darkness is a wonderful teacher that helps us grow through personal development because without darkness there can’t be light.
All of our life’s tragedies big or small have their time and space for darkness. Just keep in mind that at some point, you will need to turn on a light to be able to see clearly instead of wishing it wasn’t so dark. It’s time to live in the joy zone.
Dealing with change and finding the positive silver lining hidden within our experiences are tough life lessons to be learned. It sounds pretty straight forward but when you are really in it, it takes every ounce of energy and focus to actually do it. Easier said than done right? Sometimes it feels like these life lessons and difficult decisions are being launched like tennis balls out of a cannon one after the other with no break in between to catch our breath while we use our racquet as a shield.
From what I have seen with many people, myself included, letting go or surrendering to what is can be the hardest life lesson to swallow because it’s scary and unknown. Should I stay or should I go? Should I control the situation or just accept it as it is? Will I choose to be a victim or a victor? We fight to hang on and we fight to let go. It’s that constant back and forth rally in our minds that keeps the Wimbledon inner game of tennis alive.
Is letting go giving up? Not at all, it’s actually quite the opposite.
Caroline Myss wrote something that shook me to my core when I read it and I will share it with you. When someone says “I want to get out of this circumstance, but I’m too afraid.” She is betraying everything in her heart. She’s making choices that are harming her and that’s why she’s hurting. Her intuition is trying to tell her that. When your life begins to harm you, know that you have taken a detour from your true path. You are no different from the people who hurt you. People know when they have betrayed themselves because the little voice inside says “You’re still with that person; why didn’t you leave?” Your intuition speaks the truth that you don’t want to hear. It also says “You’ve done everything you can so it’s time to let go and surrender.”
Wow. “I am no different from the people who hurt me.” That was a huge light bulb moment and reading that was enough to make me want to let go. It’s bad enough that someone or something is hurting you and by ignoring your own heart, you are hurting yourself on top of it. Double punishment hurts. I love Caroline Myss and her perspectives.
It’s been a tough match so far, that inner game of tennis is almost finished and silence is everywhere. What will your next move be? Time to focus, your opponent Fear is about to serve.
What a perfect opportunity to discover a new and unexpected strategy in your game. By releasing someone so they can be where they need to be, do what they want to do and be with whomever they want is actually an act of love and courage on your part. Trust and respect yourself and let them go. Let them be the destructive one, you be the kind one. In that exact moment, you become more peaceful and free and you create the much needed space in your life for bigger and better things to come flowing in. It leads you to the next. Ah, finally the silver lining; acceptance and happiness. And the crowd goes wild…
We all have our “stuff” we are dealing with but that doesn’t mean we can’t find our joy along the way. Even a caged bird can find something to sing about. And when you do find the courage to surrender to change and let go, you will fly like a free bird and think “why didn’t I do this sooner?” Not only that, the tennis balls will stop flying at you and you will have victoriously won the match.
Congratulations…Love always wins. At least at this game.
Tennis anyone?
“The longest journey you will make in your life is from your head to your heart.” ~ Gary Zukav
Dare To Live Courageously... 