[blockquote source=”Ellen Bass”]to love life, to love it even
when you have no stomach for it
and everything you’ve held dear
crumbles like burnt paper in your hands,
your throat filled with the silt of it.
When grief sits with you, its tropical heat
thickening the air, heavy as water
more fit for gills than lungs;
when grief weights you like your own flesh
only more of it, an obesity of grief,
you think, How can a body withstand this?
Then you hold life like a face
between your palms, a plain face,
no charming smile, no violet eyes,
and you say, yes, I will take you
I will love you, again.[/blockquote]

I was watching a news story the other day, about a local woman who during the course of a most brutal past several months, felt she had lost all connection to hope left in her world.

She defined her days in terms of existing, and not living – with nightfall finding her, alone and wishing for that ‘deeper sleep to come.’

And, I felt so sadly for her, really…as, she hasn’t just lost hope, she’d lost her love of this life, as well.

She lost that reason for silly, late night talks with a friend…and morning coffee watching the red splash of cardinals pop in the trees;

She lost the joy in spending Saturdays with family, and letting the smell of bread rising fill every nook and corner of her home;

She lost the laughter in watching the squirrels scramble and dash along the fence line;

She lost that bliss filled contentment that finds you only along the very best of wooded trails;

And that sweet, warmth that finds it’s way through, even when bitterness tries its best to snuff out our fire? It would seem she lost that, too.

I have often wondered, how is it that this world exists equally for all?And yet, these keen human sense can fail so miserably for some? That they end up missing the gloriousness of life, through misted veil of stories their ego has created…

It reminded me of a quote, by Pema Chödrön;

“The most difficult times for many of us are the ones we give ourselves.”

Indeed, it often is.If only we might learn to lean in, and soften up a bit. To treat ourselves with the loving-kindness we so very much deserve.

Perhaps, we might find even in the darkest of skies – there’s always a little light trying to find its way through?

And, isn’t a little light all the we need – to see, once again. all the little things we may have overlooked before?

Namaste, my most beautiful friends ~ wishing you all the love and light, from my heart to yours.

Oh, yes…and a little side note, my dears: Whenever you feel you’ve lost life’s love, remember…there’s always a little waiting for you, right here.