A Return to Love

My time away from the city has brought me to confront so many things that the chaos was letting me avoid; real eyes, realize, real lies.

My message, has always been love. I don't mean romantic love (unless we're talking about The Wedding Date, because then yes, that's exactly what I mean…). I mean, love, as in a there are only two choices in life to which any of us subscribe. Love or fear. Light, God, openness, gratitude, connection, and truth - telling it, being it, living inside of it. I've been aware of these two choices, since I was a young a girl. It's not about the glass being half full or half empty. The point is, the glass is always full, because negative space is space and actually does count for something. It's the ying/yang, the sweet spot in between it all, where we realize that both good and bad, light and darkness, reside in each moment. What we choose to focus on, however, is our decision. And according to A Return to Love, that choice, that shift in perception, is a miracle.
Naturally to me, the choice to love and see the world through this view, has always been easy. I share these sentiments with my family - with my parents since I was a girl - with my friends now - the family I've chosen. Unfortunately, for me, sometimes one thing or another prompts me to want to remain closed.

This, is when the goal for inner-peace, becomes a real challenge to uphold.

Except, when you're under the sun and surrounded by people who love you without conditions, you really get a chance to see yourself as you are. And that is the biggest blessing I could've asked for, right now.

Two things.

One. Acceptance is vital. Forgiveness is, too. I think I am the toughest. And, I just might be. Except, I'm committed, this year, to letting my defenses down - at any cost. Why spend my energy building walls up, instead of taking them down?

"Someone once told me that the way peacock feathers are made is from peacocks eating thorns. What a beautiful image, that the harsh things we have to digest can contribute to our beauty. But not always. Only when we open up enough to really take in the horror, oddly enough. Resistance and defense only make the error more real, and increase our pain.
-- It takes great courage and personal strength to hold on to our center during times of great hurt. When we are in the midst of loss, or betrayal, or crisis of any kind, there is power in the words, "Be still and know I am." Truth can never be destroyed. There is no loss except in time, says the Course, and time does not exist."

Two. A flower just can't help but blossom. But you already knew that, didn't you?