Fluff At the Bottom Of My Pocket
From The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have.
If you tell me you already understand, I feel a little pessimistic. If you say you do not understand, I feel more optimistic.
--Thich Nhat Hanh
Having an honest friend-one before whom you can dump all your heart's pockets and still feel that you are worth something is a form of wealth that will buy you nothing but will give you everything. And mysteriously and rightly, to find such a friend, we must be such a friend.
Yesterday I misjudged a situation, someone's words badly. No one was hurt except me… and that was all my own doing, but it brings home the above very clearly.
Today I find myself trying to comfort two good friends who are both facing difficult times, emotionally. I have been where one is now, and could only open up and share with her all that was in my heart at the time I was in such a position, in such a place, for while affirming for her what she already knew she had to do, it was only through giving her that piece of myself that I think I could have helped. To the other I could only say I am here.
These three people, spoken of here, are my 'honest-friends' my 'best' friends whom I love very dearly and to whom I can, (and I'm sure have) empty my heart's pockets… it's just me that is the cowardly one who puts in her hand to grab the fluff at the bottom and trembles with 'what if she sees this?' And that's just plain foolish.
If you tell me you already understand, I feel a little pessimistic. If you say you do not understand, I feel more optimistic.
--Thich Nhat Hanh
Having an honest friend-one before whom you can dump all your heart's pockets and still feel that you are worth something is a form of wealth that will buy you nothing but will give you everything. And mysteriously and rightly, to find such a friend, we must be such a friend.
Yesterday I misjudged a situation, someone's words badly. No one was hurt except me… and that was all my own doing, but it brings home the above very clearly.
Today I find myself trying to comfort two good friends who are both facing difficult times, emotionally. I have been where one is now, and could only open up and share with her all that was in my heart at the time I was in such a position, in such a place, for while affirming for her what she already knew she had to do, it was only through giving her that piece of myself that I think I could have helped. To the other I could only say I am here.
These three people, spoken of here, are my 'honest-friends' my 'best' friends whom I love very dearly and to whom I can, (and I'm sure have) empty my heart's pockets… it's just me that is the cowardly one who puts in her hand to grab the fluff at the bottom and trembles with 'what if she sees this?' And that's just plain foolish.