Enough
August 30, 2009 by Karen
The night of the Big Shave
Writing has been difficult for me lately. Something in me is shifting and I am anxious to understand my life’s purpose- my Mission, so to speak. I keep thinking that it has to be something Huge-Earth Shattering. I am coming to realize that just Being the Light that we are is enough.
People tell me all the time that they find me “so brave.” Often I don’t feel all that brave. I was just reading Pema Chodron- she is a Buddit Nun whom I had the pleasure of seeing speak recently- and she reminded me that bravery is being afraid and still moving forward. She encouraged me to face my fears and keep on keeping on. Maybe that is the best definition of bravery. It is the best I have so far.
I began losing my hair a few weeks ago. I kept thinking that maybe, just maybe it was merely thinning. But when my daughter picked up a handful of hair from the pillow I had slept on, I knew it was time. Zaiden’s involvement was healing for us both. We started super short, then after a week, my dearest Laura shaved the rest off while Zaiden held my hand, reminding me that Bald is Beautiful.
It is amazing, as women, how much our identities are linked to our hair. Our breasts. It is humbling beyond words… I am working on looking myself in the eye- reminding myself that beauty is far deeper than hair. Reminding myself that I am beautiful, I am a woman… I am ENOUGH.
The reality is, I am terrified! Terrified of getting sicker, terrified of not seeing my daughter grow up, terrified of nausea and pain. There is a difference, however, in being scared and having fear. To me, having fear is having no faith. Faith that I AM strong enough, brave enough- or simply ENOUGH.
So there is my thought for today… I am ENOUGH
Keep Faith and Joy Close
Karen
kareng@reachforthejoy.org
“Weather Report” by BJ Gallagher
August 28, 2009 by Karen
“Any day I’m vertical
is a good day”
…that’s what I always say.
If you ask me,
“How are you?”
I’ll answer, “GREAT!”
because in saying so,
I make it so.
When Life gives me dark clouds and rain,
I appreciate the moisture
that brings a soft curl to my hair.
When Life gives me sunshine,
I gratefully turn my face up
to feel its warmth on my cheeks.
When Life brings fog,
I hug my sweater around me
and give thanks for the cool shroud of mystery
that makes the familiar seem different and intriguing.
When Life brings snow,
I dash outside to catch the first flakes on my tongue,
relishing the icy miracle that is a snowflake.
Life’s events and experiences
are like the weather -
they come and go,
no matter what my preference.
So, what the heck?!
I might as well decide to enjoy them.
For indeed,
there IS a time for every purpose
under Heaven.
And each season brings its own unique blessings.
-BJ GALLAGHER
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