Out of the fear comes...

An interesting switching of gears these past few days.  I don't know what the triggers have been to choose this path of darker reflections.  Perhaps I  have been spending too much time on social media and reading the wrong headlines in the news!

Out of fear and anxiety comes loving, caring gestures.  That's how I like to see it.  When you put vulnerable self out there and people respond with caring words and acts, it is a reminder of the goodness that can be found in humanity.

It is a demonstration of love to be direct about it.  Every act - whether small or over the top - is an act of love when the intention comes from a loving heart.

I wrestled with buried anxiety this past week - stuff that I thought was long gone.  And when it came back up, the voice of loving reason was LOUDER than the voice of fear.  This, my friend, is a really good thing.

I am dedicated to the belief and practice that love will conquer all.  I will stand by that value and continue to walk that talk as often as I can.

Love wins. Always.

Love & Loneliness

There's a loneliness that can creep up on me when I least expect it.  I live alone in a city that is new to me, so there's no wonder it sneaks up on me.  It feels bigger than life sometimes when I am ill or when I feel afraid.

I admit, it is difficult to see the love in those kinds of moments.  But love - like the moon and the sun - is always present even if you can't see it.  My daughter is several hundred miles away but I can feel her love because it is ever-present and part of me.

I suppose self-love is also about welcoming the 'scaries' in some capacity because that kind of stuff lingers as much as joy can fill the air.  It is all about the ebb and flow of grieving and of celebration. It is the human experience.

It is comforting to constantly reminding myself that this, too, shall pass...whatever 'this' is in the moment....and also know that love is my rock-solid foundation and will help keep my face in the sun.

Negative Nellie & Little Miss Susie Sunshine

How do you balance love of a friend and the need to share something that most likely will be unpleasant with someone you care for? I know that I have languished in a dark place or two due to many reasons over the years - and it is necessary to visit that space - but what to do when you a think a friend keeps returning to the Hole of Despair and almost embraces it like a long lost friend?

Do I give her the space to be in that frame of mind and just "be there" for when she emerges on the other side? Or, is it part of my loving kindness to call it out in the open? This is something I think about often. I struggle with my need to 'fix it' but on the other side of it, I want to look a positive ways to tackle life challenges. Is it a one-size-fits-all approach? Unlikely. I suppose the best approach would be to bring it up and see where the conversation goes but that is being vulnerable (aka dang scary).

I thinking of times in the past when I shared fears and anxiety about how I was feeling in a friendship and then, it seemed like the person disappeared in few weeks. I've been reluctant to give it a go as a result, but then again, I want strive to be my true self when it comes to my close relationships.

The conundrum!
The quandary!

I'm going to sit on this for a bit and I'll get back to you about how it all turned out.

via GIPHY