2013 Tribute to You

 

My fellow MM member, Heidi, shared this beautiful blog written by Jen Louden on the Moderation Management message board today and it reminded me so much of all of you in this wonderful, giving, tenacious, sober blogger, message board, chatroom, AA meeting, rehab... world of ours.

Thank you for holding my hand and not letting go.

A 2013 Tribute to You

I see all the times you followed your desires, without guilt or second-guessing or demanding a particular outcome. Even if only for a few breaths.

I see all the times you stopped hurrying, played in the field of creative joy, took a nap, flowered with self-kindness.

I see the kisses you savored, the connections you took in, the evanescent beauty of life you let break you open.

I see the days you started with reverence and ended with gratitude.

I see the times you nodded briskly at your fears, said “I hear you; we’ll talk later” and turned away to pick up the pen, the paintbrush, the business plan.

I see all the times you bit your tongue when you wanted to say something cruel, all the times you took a deep, slow breath and found your heart instead of your anger.

I see all the times you softened your heart, forgave yourself, forgave someone else, dropped the grudge, the blame, your defenses.

I see all the times you turned away from comparison and envy at the curated lives parading on the screens that surround you, turned off the din and settled back into your sovereignty.

And all the ways you have allowed life to temper you, faced your shadow with tenderness, dared vulnerability, loved greatly.

The times you dug deep to serve – from the money given when the month was tight to the petition signed to the soup made. Yes, I see that. And yes, it was enough.

Please imagine us in a circle that stretches – literally – around the globe. We join hands. We do not sing “Kumbaya.” We do, however, look to the right and then to the left. We nod at each other. Maybe we tear up a little. We are, after all, fiercely awesome.

We bow to each person’s fierce desire to be whole and to heal the whole.

We are ennobled by each other.

Thank you, we whisper, thank you.