trying to soften into the truth
When I posted this photo on Instagram over the weekend, I added a comment that said, "today feels hard. trying to just soften into that truth." It had been a hard day. And I was deeply missing my friends and family. I took this photo because I wanted to be seen. I took this photo because I needed to just let someone else know that I was having a hard day. And I was surrounded by love on Instagram. And I admit that I really needed it.
Sometimes I just don't know what to do with social media. I am sometimes mystified by what people choose to say or share. As we get closer to the election, my patience and kindness is tested by the words that appear in my various feeds.
But then I am just so deeply moved by all the love that is there. By the kindness. By the way people circle around each other...when storms come, when tears fall, when grief arrives, when joy appears.
We just keep finding our way, don't we?
Life feels sharp at times. Or maybe it is my own edges that feel sharp. I want to invite in more ease, so I am working with this image of softening into the truths that make up the moments over here. Working with the word "soft" just feels right. It seems to be kindreds with "let it be" and "surrender." It makes me think of these lines from "Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver:
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Yes. This.
Opening up to the softness and the love. This feels like the right path for this moment.
xoxo,
Liz
liz lamoreux
Reader Comments (3)
What lovely (and real) thoughts. We all need a soft place to fall...
The tears have been sitting on my eyelids and have been there for a few days, but reading Mary Oliver's poem has caused them to slip. Words that were meant for me today.
As I was walking to my car after work tonight, I felt this stab of wanting to be seen, and desired. It brought a bit of a sting to my eyes, but tears did not fall. I let myself feel those whirling emotions instead of push them away. Sitting with powerful emotions can be difficult if we harden to them & allow resistance to feeling challenged. Softening into what comes up feels good. Less tension to hold in the body. It hurts to hold on tightly. It also hurts a bit to learn how to soften & let go.