Farewell Tender Young Spring

Welcome to late spring. Cool days are wafting away in favor of heat by mid-day. The lettuce-green leaves of trees have been replaced by a hardier green. Heat-loving plants will jump this week.

Farewell to early spring and mid-spring as the sun leans toward summer.

We ourselves were tender young hearts once upon a time, prone to cry, not only when we suffered pain, but also when our feelings were hurt. Before we had words for emotions--sad, mad, scared, frustrated.

Eventually, we hardened off our feelings and stopped crying because big kids don't cry, and bigger kids didn't cry.

Our tender young heart still beats within us. Listen. Make room for those feelings to grow. Recognize the various flavors of grief, sorrow, despair, irritation, annoyance. Now we are big kids, and we have the words to express ourselves.

Sitting very still, right beside the painful feeling, so still you don't notice it, is joy. Joy is holding the hand of those painful feelings. Give joy a chance to express herself, simply by being present with what is.