Deep Hurt

Dang it, life hurts sometimes. Like really, really hurts.

When you’re in the middle of such hurt, you realize how good life is most of the time. Which is an excellent reminder because humans are good at focusing on challenges and brushing off everyday magic.

We all have those deep, hurting times. It’s part of the deal. Yours might have different details than mine, but it feels similar. This is one of the things that gently strings us together and reminds us that we are not alone. My pain recognizes your pain.

Since there’s no escaping it, we may as well take a deep breath, open the front door, and welcome our hurt in with a hot cup of acceptance tea and a plate of damn it, this is really happening cookies.

Because if we don’t, it will only hurt worse.

There’s no right or wrong way to handle deep hurt. We just get through it the best we can, one day, one hour, one breath at a time. But there is one little thing I’ve found that makes it just a splash easier.

When I’m in the middle of intense emotional pain, I say to myself, with gobs and oodles of love:

This is how it feels right now, my dear.

This stops me in my tracks and reminds me that whatever I’m feeling is okay.
It helps me stay in the present moment.
It doesn’t sugarcoat reality.
It doesn’t deny anything.
It doesn’t try to fix.

With this little sentence, I am a witness to my pain, I am not my pain.

This is how it feels right now, my dear. And it won’t feel like this forever.

Have a beautiful weekend, my friend. If you need some plant based comfort food, these are some of my favorites.

Molly