A Normal Day
“Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. Let me hold you while I may, for it may not always be so. One day I shall dig my nails into the earth, or bury my face in the pillow, or stretch myself taut, or raise my hands to the sky and want, more than all the world, your return.”
― Mary Jean Irion
I have suffered from seasonal affective disorder all my adult life, each year getting worse and worse. But this year, with some wonderful guidance and deep, dark soul and energy work, I finally cracked the sadness. In fact, I came to find the sadness beautiful when it came around, but more so, I found ways to feel more excited, hopeful, and inspired. No more dealing with it, counting the days. I became ever-present in the weather, the cold, the dark. And the biggest secret: I started to look to the skies. I started following the lunar cycles and celebrating them with small rituals. I stand beneath the stars and ponder the space between them. We skate on frozen streams at sunset. And I share this all with you. You see, it is all inside you. Every. Single. Thing. And if you simply sit with that knowledge, you can start to find peace and freedom. My sweet child, this is it. It is beautiful.
Photo by Olivia Gatti
we had lots of time to talk over these past couple weeks of winter break. there were many conversations about how hard this school year has been on your sweet heart. friendship or the lack thereof has weighed you down much more than i ever could have imagined. you are only in second grade and already you seem resigned to this idea that no one will ever like you. i have tried and tried to convince you that this simply isn’t the truth. i wish you could open your eyes wide enough to see what is right here in front of you. i know these people aren’t exactly what you think you want or need right now but these little souls adore you and years from now when you are grown and you are surrounded by others who love and respect you, i hope you will remember these people who loved you right from the start. there is nothing truer than this.
Photo by Heather Robinson Photography