Distress is a clue...

to the wonder that is you :D.

Dear gfs or others in distress,

** DISCLAIMER FIRST: Not thinking of anyone in particular, just a thought I want to put out here and anyone may use it if it's useful, claim it and propagate it :-D

I find that it always helps me to recognize my distresses, to put my finger on them and allow myself those feelings. ... But not to stop there. To start meditating (thinking, reflecting, praying, dreaming) on where these feelings are coming from. Why is a good question that need not be feared. And often it takes a lot of why's to uncover the complex landscape within.... Why am I feeling this way? If so, then why? And then, why? Why is a journey to more of yourself, and a journey that you fully deserve (because it is a good journey to make :D).

It also signifies that you're not giving away responsibility for your happiness to others around you. YOU are what makes you happy. Others can't make you happy. You can :D. I bet others also have their hands full with their own journeys and if we all journey side by side now and then, we're truly blessed.

Also, to backtrack a little, we give so much of our time, attention and a sense of importance to our joys and our happiness. Maybe we need to realize that our sorrows, our fears and our distress also need our attention. Sitting with them, making them our family, getting to know the other stuff behind those feelings, will help us bring ourselves to a better place.

A better place where we are able to communicate ourselves better to the people that we hold dear, and take up our issues and our feelings with them. But to do so from a centered place within ourselves, such that our encounters become mutual learning sessions, instead of blame-fests or more opportunities to be hurt :D

The thing is, we are together because we have much to learn from each other. And I betcha everyone has something important to learn.

Oh, and a last point for me and others: one thing I've learned from the past several months is that people are also fragile, handle with care. Compassion is a good thing to bring along, and if you can help it, try not to create more hurt. Be mindful.

Love you.

;-)