In the midst of pain there is a tendency to want to curl up. It feels very much like protection to envelop the most sensitive parts from exposure to outward battering.
After some of my most heart wrenching moments, I found myself curled in a ball clutching my heart in a desperate attempt to shield it. Enveloped in a few moments of solace. The problem that developed was dependence on the place that felt safe and distanced from potential discomfort. Even a caccoon which is designed to swaddle the caterpillar during metamorphisis becomes a cage to the butterfly unless she is able to break herself free when it’s time to fly.
Everyone needs a place of respite. A safe place where we can go and rest and feel comforted, and protected, and secure.
But if we remain there too long our ability to function becomes atrophied like unused muscles. Withered. Wasting away.
While we think we are protecting ourselves, it’s easy to lose our ability to freely trust or love or hope. Protection can turn to entrapment. We might begin to feel insecure, doubt ourselves, or fear the pain more than we desire to live fully. At some point we have to allow ourselves to uncurl.
Open up.
Re-enter our messy, beautiful life.
When the sting of pain begins to wain, extend, move and stretch. Reach for the fullness of life.
Pain is a part of life. We can’t escape it.
And we can’t hide from it. “Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid.” ~Buechner
Your interpretation of enveloped is my favorite out of the hundreds I’ve seen. Not only do your images fit the theme perfectly and are also beautiful, but your witting is insightful, and takes it to another level!
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What an honor to read your kind words. Thank you so much.
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So beautifully written. Thanks for the post.
Shine On
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Thank you.
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Blown away by your deep understanding of pain and how we are inclined to react… stuck in our safe place and fearful of re-entering the world that can harm us again. This sums up plenty of my previous most painful moments… and true, you need to leave but it is sometimes so hard…
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It is difficult. I agree. Therefore, it is important to take the step when you are ready. Thank you for reading.
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