Many years ago I was in some sort of personal development workshop with a woman whose face I can see clearly but I can’t remember her name. She turned down the lights and played music I can’t remember either. Much of this memory is fuzzy. She had us stand up and raise our arms straight out like a T. She talked about how opening your heart is easy at first. We can do it without a second thought. But as our arms grew heavy and she encouraged us to hold them high, keeping my arms up required all my thoughts. The lesson was teaching us: Can we keep our hearts open even when it’s hard? Can we keep our hearts open even while it hurts? Even when we’re tired and tired of it hurting?
Resoundingly Yes. It was so beautiful. . . this I remember clearly. As much as it hurt, I could keep my arms up. Heart open. This is a choice we have. We can keep our hearts open. Just a choice. We can love those around us even when they’ve hurt us. We can be loving even when it makes no sense. We can love people who maybe can’t love us back right now. Even when we’re tired and tired of it hurting. We can keep our hearts open.
I encourage you to keep your heart open too… even when it hurts. When someone is really ummm. . . not doing what we’d like. . . will you love them anyway? When I feel pushed and kinda pissed off, I stop and ask myself “How can I best love this person anyway.” (Ok, not 100% of the time… it’s a work in progress)
Why? Because it makes things easier. It smooths those rough interactions. And because life is just so beautiful when you’re willing to love instead of “win.”