more or less human

it seems that in life, there is much loss.

we each experience loss in our own way.

there's no instruction manual on how to grieve and mourn
and many flounder when confronted with loss.

some face it head-on.
some ignore.

and many more in between.

some self-medicate.
some self-deny.

and many more in between.

there is difficult balance to maintain between acknowledging the loss
and not letting it incapacitate you.

some weep and wail.
some bite their lip.

and many more in between.

I say:
- feel it and know it
- embrace it and learn it.

you have a choice:
- allow the loss to make you more or less human.

rejoicing & mourning

life is simple...

albeit extremely complex - yet simple.

I'm not saying it's easy, but it is simple (there is a difference)...more simple than I had once thought.

- we rejoice/ we mourn

Admittedly, sometimes our natural inclination is to:

- be secretly jealous when something good happens to someone else: "how come nothing good ever happens to me?"

- be secretly happy when something bad happens to someone else: "well, I'm glad that didn't happen to me."

How selfish, no? How love-lacking it is to respond in those ways...

We walk through this life, seemingly stumbling at times, groping our way in the dark. Things happen - good things, wonderfully joyous things; and bad things, horribly mournful things. These things have happened to you. These things will continue to happen to you.

Just to let you in on a little something: these things have happened and will continue to happen to the people you co-habitate this earth with. You know this...

When these things happen to those around you (and they will), what will you choose? Secret jealousy and/or happiness.

Or will you choose the higher/ harder road?

Rejoicing with those who rejoice and mourning with those who mourn.

Life may be more simple than you thought. Rejoice and mourn and forget about yourself for a moment.

...and as you do, you may even find yourself loving. I pray you do.