sore muscles, sore heart
this weekend i moved my body in so many more ways than recent history has allowed. two yoga classes. one fast & all alone (brave, i was), another slow&sweaty, a new friend glowing beside me, her knees deeper, arms longer than my own little limbs. in child's pose, forehead to mat, i found myself crying in breathfulls--small tears. the teacher closed the class with an anonymous list of individual truths, many of which found a fiery twin of recognition at the back of my throat.
I've learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I've learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to,
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.
I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.
I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice.
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.
I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I've learned that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I've learned that maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I've learned that your family won't always be there for you.
It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to
can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again.
Families aren't biological.
I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.
I've learned that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.
I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children,
they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.
I've learned that no matter how many friends you have,
if you are their pillar you will feel lonely and lost
at the times you need them most.
I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.
I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line
between being nice and not hurting people's feelings
and standing up for what you believe.
walking home, damp & drained, watching all these beautiful creatures through my starlet sunglasses-- so blessed to be here, to be present as i feel my life, my self changing. actually moving & growing in a positive burst of green unfurling. later, there was the (detroit) cobras in mccarren park pool--hula hoopers in water, ex-riot grrrl compatriots in toocool getupgear, then some dirty ankles, a spectator kickball tournament, & butterball baths.
take note: earnesty is the new sarcasm. try it out--tell someone (a stranger, a best friend, a new&old love) that you like their red&white polka dot skirt, their hot pink flask of whiskey, their slingsterslick cat-eye glasses, their puppy or just the way they reach their arms up to stretch. it could change your (our) world(s)--it's already cherry blossoming in mine.
I've learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.
I've learned that no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.
I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to,
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.
I've learned that it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.
I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.
I've learned that you can keep going
long after you think you can't.
I've learned that learning to forgive takes practice.
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.
I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.
I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.
I've learned that true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
I've learned that maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
I've learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.
I've learned that your family won't always be there for you.
It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to
can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again.
Families aren't biological.
I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken
the world doesn't stop for your grief.
I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
I've learned that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.
I've learned that we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.
I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children,
they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.
I've learned that no matter how many friends you have,
if you are their pillar you will feel lonely and lost
at the times you need them most.
I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.
I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.
I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line
between being nice and not hurting people's feelings
and standing up for what you believe.
walking home, damp & drained, watching all these beautiful creatures through my starlet sunglasses-- so blessed to be here, to be present as i feel my life, my self changing. actually moving & growing in a positive burst of green unfurling. later, there was the (detroit) cobras in mccarren park pool--hula hoopers in water, ex-riot grrrl compatriots in toocool getupgear, then some dirty ankles, a spectator kickball tournament, & butterball baths.
take note: earnesty is the new sarcasm. try it out--tell someone (a stranger, a best friend, a new&old love) that you like their red&white polka dot skirt, their hot pink flask of whiskey, their slingsterslick cat-eye glasses, their puppy or just the way they reach their arms up to stretch. it could change your (our) world(s)--it's already cherry blossoming in mine.