1) The strong cannot and should not pretend to be weak to make the weak feel stronger, and 2) light and dark cannot exist in the same space---these opposites simply do not mesh. Like I said, obvious, but profoundly deep! How many of us find ourselves in relationships where we sacrifice our spirit for the sake of making the other person feel better about themselves? Some of us experience this at work, at home, with friends, etc., but so few are willing to break the cycle of dependency that this situation creates. So many continue to dim their internal lights from shining brightly when they find themselves beside someone who insists on functioning in the dark. Like I said in previous entries...I cannot live in the dark and my light has to shine brightly because the dimmer switch is broken! I realize that we all are in different phases of life...different seasons as Spence said...but I will no longer let someone's dreary Michigan winter affect my sunny Hawaiian summer! (ha ha)
That's not to say that it doesn't rain once in awhile for me, but I prefer a forecast of sun than one of overcast skies....a horizon open to possibilities, rather than a dark shadow casting off hope! Rather philosophical for a Monday morning after a holiday break, don't you think? Well, I tell ya...these lunches are filling, even if we're not eating all that much! The great dialogue coupled with the fact that I enjoyed a long weekend with lots of laughter, relaxation, and good family time helps with the joyful disposition on a day like today when most people are dragging and bitching about being back to work! I feel renewed and extremely blessed to have such insightful people in my life..they help me take stock every so often and appreciate all I have! At this point, I want to focus my energy on enjoying the present...the holidays around the corner, fun gatherings with friends and family, only 3 weeks of school left before a real vacation (the first I've had since April)....with so much in front of me at this time, I have no energy left to worry about what might be...what could happen...what needs to get done...I just plan to take each moment as it comes (at least based on my perspective today!) and enjoy each one for what it is!
Read the following and reflect...goes well with these thoughts!
The Invitation—Oriah Mountain Dreamer
It doesn't interest me what you do for a living. I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's longing.
It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dream, for the adventure of being alive.
It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon. I want to know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.
I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own, without moving to hide it, or fade it, or fix it.
I want to know if you can be with joy, mine or your own; if you can dance with wildness and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips of your fingers and toes without cautioning us to be careful, be realistic, remember the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true. I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to yourself. If you can bear the accusation of betrayal and not betray your own soul. If you can be faithful and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you can see Beauty even when it is not pretty every day. And if you can source your own life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure, yours and mine, and still stand at edge of the lake and shout to the silver of the full moon, 'Yes.'
It doesn't interest me to know where you live or how much money you have. I want to know if you can get up after the night of grief and despair, weary and bruised to the bone and do what needs to be done to feed the children.
It doesn't interest me who you know or how you came to be here. I want to know if you will stand in the centre of the fire with me and not shrink back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom you have studied. I want to know what sustains you from the inside when all else falls away.
I want to know if you can be alone with yourself and if you truly like the company you keep in the empty moments.
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