once upon a time ...

once upon a time each one of us was a child
with big sparkling eyes
an innocent and trusting heart
hopeful to please
and a desire to be loved.
learning our world through the world of those around us.

how we got from there to here was largely formed by the way we perceived ourselves to be valued in the eyes
and hearts
and lives
of others.

one day, each child before us will be an adult
and how they get from here to there ... will be the same.

a breakdown in this journey can change everything
and it can happen in an instant.

maybe it has happened to you, maybe you have witnessed it happening, or maybe you have been the speaker, without even knowing it.

failing to consider the heart of a child when we speak to them can be the fastest way to cause huge damage with even the tiniest of words.

but we can remember their innocence.
respect their vulnerability.
and honor their beautiful souls.
all it takes is an awareness
and the effort to be conscious instead of careless.

let us all choose to consciously build our children up, not carelessly tear them down.


"The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice."  -Peggy O'Mara

sticks and stones

while i do believe that another person's opinion of you does not define you, and just because someone says something to you or about you, that doesn't make it true ...  i also believe that even though sticks and stones may break bones, words can in fact hurt sometimes...

i believe it is only right that we should be mindful of our words, our tone, and the energy that we bring into any space. 

it is our responsibility to recognize who we are, and think about who it is that we want to be.  to acknowledge that the way we affect others not only affects the relationship they have with us, it can also affect them as a person. 

this is true for any dynamic, whether it is a partner, a child, a parent, relative, friend, or stranger. 

our awareness can make the difference. 

a broken spirit takes much longer to heal than a broken bone. 

honoring our connections

♥

sometimes there are people who come into our life and we don't know how it was that we ever did not know them.

sometimes there are people who we connect with, even before we really speak.

sometimes there are people who we cannot disconnect from, even after we part.

there are those who touch our heart,

challenge our mind,

feed our soul.

i believe it is important to honor our connections.  no matter how big or small they might seem today.  no matter how much bigger or smaller they might become on any other day.

i believe it is important to see inside them and really treasure who lives in there. 

the gift of their presence might seem effortless,

but it is their greatest truth,

their spirit,

their journey,

and deserves to be handled with care.

so be thankful.

be thankful.

and be

thankful.