I had overthought connections and friendships for so long. Suddenly, I saw only love. I don’t really know how to describe it. I’m not sure if I woke up one day with it, heard it in a Insight Timer live or meditation or received it during my own practice. Perhaps I had reached a place of healing and space that it occurred to me naturally- as if just shifting to the front of my brain, being remembered from a past life or early childhood, even. Our patterns will always explain to us why we need to push people away, running from this truth, and if we spend time listening to and even believing it- we take time we could have spent embracing everything and everyone. The present moment is always moving and we are always being called to embrace what’s next to us while it still is.

If we can come into awareness enough to recognize this and answer this call beyond what our ego tells  us, that is.

Consciously putting all personal afflictions aside, no matter how uncomfortable, to choose love in it’s highest form is a radical act. You see so much bad news and crisis- the good news becomes few, far between, but especially heartwarming. Think about the good and heartwarming things you see and read about. The heartwarming moments you experience. Why wouldn’t we root ourselves in that goodness? To love each other and ourselves all the same?

This is the way. I think in our beings, somewhere, we all know it. But we lose sight of it in the midst of our patterns and daily life. So if you have a friend that you’re not crazy about- things have changed, there’s not a lot in common left, or you’ve just grown apart. Don’t abandon every past connection for the sake of radical change and expansion. We don’t need to eradicate everything so haphazardly in this fast paced world. I had cut out so many connections for the sake of this disillusioned growth. I really do believe everything happens for a reason, though. But maybe there’s degrees to the earthly lessons we endure. Have I at any point made my journey harder or lonelier? Maybe. But I think that solitude- that space for me to expand, regardless of how much I rejected it at the time, was divinely timed. Those moments in between all the temporary jobs, friends, and relationships that ached the most were the moments that shaped me into unbreakable gold. I was often cold, scared, and abandoning myself. I would have flashbacks to easier times, and I was left to bear the weight of rose tinted nostalgia alone. Now, I hold these experiences fondly as energy, and honor them as such. Especially the challenging ones. Of course, the beautiful ones. No matter how rare or far between they appeared. They were always held in so much disbelief and appreciation. I remember fondly all the times my life felt like a movie even despite all of the trauma, healing, and often reluctant expansion. These people that shared in these moments are somewhere now, too. Experiencing their own lessons, their own joys, their own loves and sorrows. So say happy birthday. Express love from an abundant place. Love from a pool of itself. Not the love you keep in jars for the people and things that please you specifically. Love all from rich and boundless waters. Love from your cells- out into the world. And let the world love you. Make love to and with the universe. Pet dogs, savor your food, breathe deep, talk to strangers, smile at everyone, and hold whatever power that created it all so close- closer than breath. Let your breath be your song and sing and dance all day long. Sing whatever sorrows to sleep. Feel it all but come back to miraculous and fully realized vibration of this existence. We will not be here for long. May we savor it immensely. May we honor it. May we create space for it’s delights and honor them all in grateful solitude and in the hands and arms of those we love. May we pray for each and every soul, everything, all we’ve ever known. May we honor ourselves and each other and love as deeply as the universe is expansive.

Say happy birthday. Say I love you. Say everything, love everything, and love everyone.

It is WHO we are. It is the way.

I love you. Thank you. Happy birthday.