There are those special moments in life, shelters from the sting of reality, alcoves of safety from the storms of daily life, they keep us sane. They keep us going.
Like a friend pulling you aside at your Dad’s funeral, giving you that hug that you had needed all day, telling you that your dad would have been unbelievably proud of you, that he loved you more than breathing, and just letting you cry till you laugh. The trust fills those leaking places and reminds you that even in the face of death, life can be so very special. That friend keeps you going.
Or being in the packed line at the grocery store, just not having a good day, fumbling with the items in self checkout, you know that you’re not stupid. But this day! You go to pay only to realize you left your debit card at home and while you frantically search your wallet for more cash, you’re still short. People are getting noticeably impatient behind you. Awkwardly, you tell the teenager running the mad house that you need to put back some items. It is then, that elderly gentleman walks up smiling and pays the remaining amount. As you bag your groceries, the man cheerfully recounts how he hates it when he forgets things, all the while, making you feel better, all the while offering human love. That stranger keeps you going.
There is that someone that you can return to nightly, a person who recharges your spirit, justifies your thoughts, and challenges you to be a better human. A dual ownership of sharing and learning, this person understands the playfulness in your essence, the battles in your past, and your dreams for the future. A simple hug is the anchor of your day, a dance of validation that simply shows love living happily in your home. That person keeps you going.
There will always be rainbows after the thunder, the calm, after the storm, it is the natural order of the planet. And like the planet around us, we can find those moments of support in the people around us.
We can live. We can love.
We can keep each other going.
Lee
