sometimes you carry them, sometimes they carry you

♥

when you love others

sometimes you carry them

sometimes they carry you

not like a weight

not like a burden

more like the way skydivers soar together

or children ride piggyback

or spirit guides and guardian angels provide covering ... 

what makes this work

is trust.

knowing you are safe.

knowing you are safe in the heart and hands of another.

sometimes we feel called to be with those we love

when they are grieving

struggling

searching for their breath.

it isn't that we expect them to keep us company

it isn't that we expect them to have anything to give

it isn't that we expect to do anything at all for them.

sometimes it is just to be there.

not to talk.

not to do.

it is about just sharing the same space.

sharing breath when they can't find their own.

just being together.

it's about presence.

it's about love.

nothing more.

nothing less.

love,

and presence.

♥

welcome yourself home

at some point the question arises:
do you like who you are with when you are all alone?

when you realize that you are more than enough ...
when you understand that who you are is exactly as you should be ...
when you accept and *trust* who you really are ...
you no longer need the acceptance of others.
you no longer need the approval of anyone else.
you no longer need to prove yourself
or your faith
or your love.

we are all broken.
we are all learning.

come home to your truth.
and with open arms,
welcome yourself home.

coincidence? or confirmation ...

it started out with a typical line but went in a direction that i felt was anything but typical.

check out the beautiful words that were spoken to me by a random stranger yesterday.
in a crowded room.
surrounded by hundreds of people.
this man turned and spoke to me.
there was no introduction.
no name.
i only remember he was a large african american man ... i don't remember what he was wearing, his facial features or his scent.
i only remember his eyes.
and these words.

him:  are you from around here?
me: no. you?
him:  no i live in the middle east.
me, nodding: oh
him: if there is something you want to do in your life
if there is something on your bucket list
or anything you feel you must *live*
you need to do it.
you got to!
life is not to be taken for granted.
i don't want to grow old and say to my kids, 'i wish i would've ...'
i don't wanna have regrets.
neither should you.

you take something for granted?
what you been granted gets taken away.
think about that.
i moved to egypt and i go back and forth to kuwait also. i love it there, i went to teach english.
i had to.
i'm just here for a couple of days.
cause even a detour ain't gonna stop me from doin what i was called to do.
from livin and lovin how i'm supposed to.
i love my life.
i had to do it.
had to make it happen and not waste my life.
my life is a gift.
so is yours.

and with a nod and a smile that was in his eyes, not on his mouth, we walked away from each other.

just minutes before this conversation, i had stood in this spot and taken this photo

another example of why i believe in speaking with anyone, anywhere, at any time.  
you just never know ...

♥