Lifting each other through the rough bits of life

We talked a lot about struggle and pain lately. From time to time I can’t help but pick up on the vibrations of your pain. And sometimes I fall victim myself and sadness sweeps over me for no apparent reason. Stay tuned for another post about this. This week has definitely been such a week. You can check out how we got to talking so much about it, here, here, and here.

During that time, when I feel the burdens and sadness of the world, when picking up it’s struggles, I hear the unspoken words, the misery behind closed doors. Secrets and challenges not shared, kept deep inside, anchored to your soul. I hear the cries, yet no words are spoken. No SOS call is made, and yet I know and feel the need for one. It’s a time when we feel helpless and struggle to find ways to help. For ourselves and others, being the one affected or being the helpless bystander. How can it be that we are armed with wisdom and knowledge, but it merely deflects off of us? When we don’t hear our own voice and can’t see the light?

Perhaps the only way to make a difference is to practice awareness and mindfulness. To sit with yourself and allow those feelings. To not suppress them and putting in the shadow work on yourself. There has to be a reason this has come up for us. It is during that time, that we should recognize this important work in ourselves and in others. What could we do different to support and ease that time? Not all of us are always going to be down at the same time. We will likely take turns between being strong and needing a little TLC. A small token, a kind word, a smile, can make the difference for someone who is struggling. I know I have spoken about random acts of kindness before. Do yourself a favor and pay it forward to someone and see how good “giving” truly feels. It can make the difference for someone, it can make the difference for you.

Today I remember a time when I have found myself in such a moment. When a stranger gave me a compliment, or when someone simply told me how awesome I was, that I made a difference for them, that I helped them in some way. I want to remember that feeling, how good it was to my soul and my heart, even though I am, or you are, not the greatest at taking compliments. Fact is that from time to time we need to hear it, awkward or not. So get used to it and make it a regular practice.

I want to take this very feeling and use it to motivate you. I want someone else to experience this gift and pay it forward. To know that it made someone’s day, turned it around, gave hope, and a renewed look at life. What if we had the power to remove the darkness from someone’s life and show them the light at the end of the tunnel? Wouldn’t that be amazing? Well guess what? We do have such a power and we can.

Today I’m using this platform to start, and I want to tell all of you how amazing you are. You all make a difference in my life and it means the world to me. I am forever grateful for all of you. May everybody reading this or not, find the blessing of a gift in some sort. And may everybody use that energy to bestow such a gift for someone else. A friendly smile at a stranger may be an easy way to start and you can layer on from there. We can do this, and together we will make a difference.

Much love, aways 🙏🏼