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What heals us?
The question came in to my brain today while I was working and tonight, now, I have time to ramble about it. If part of us aches, we try to make it better. Could be an advil, could be a turkey burger from Burgerville, could be a smile from a child or a lick from a dog. We all ache and I think part of our journey in life is to figure out what it is in life that makes us feel better again.
These aches- these pains that are associated with so much pain— where did they come from? From age, yes. From love, yes. From fear, sadness, glory and emotion, yes. Growing pains begin the day you are born and I don’t think they end until the day you leave this earth.
I always thought that growning older would mean that life would get easier. For some reason, I thought that the hardest stuff happened in those awkward moments at school, or Flo Bailyn’s cotillian, or in fights with big brother over who told mom what. I somehow imagined life as an adult would be easier- I’d have a partner to face any battle with, but didn’t even think that far— never imagined battles. I thought my glamourous job would be a walk in the park… but probably didn’t think that far either. I just didn’t think that grown up life would be tivo and paint chips and dry rot and cancer and fires and rabies shots for pets hoping to travel overseas.
These aches and pains- and glories and sadnessess— these are the manifestation of life’s greatest gift- of existence- of consciousness and living- and feeling and doing— did too much and now my knee hurts. Loved so much that now my heart hurts. Got so excited to play with fire that now I’m burned. That’s life.
There aren’t many problems that dog licks don’t help at least a little bit. Phone calls with mom help more. Friends help leaps and bounds, too. Strangely, I’m more thankful now for my skinned knees, or tears shed or joint laughter (I mean when 2 friends laugh together- not wrist pops talking to you) cause those are the life in life. Those things make and keep us real. The healing part happens between the injuries. The built endurance and character developed getting from hurt to healed is where the life happens and where the real us-es…. all of us… become our truest selves.
As Joe snores and the tv glow buzzes, I say sleep well, everyone. Thanks for reading. Glad the moment happened.
There. I felt like writing, so I did.