I don’t know how this happened? Could I explain this phenomenon away? Could I somehow capture this emotion and show the world what this feels like? I don’t know? But I feel compelled in my journey to share this raw, unrehearsed moment.
And this is it. My joy embraced a past hurt this a.m. One may say, what’s the big deal? But hurt, she is this powerful source. She comes in like this horrible, terrific blizzard swirling around and filling every part of you. She isn’t happy until she encompasses and freezes your entire heart. And she settles in. It changes you. You become cold to your surroundings, to people’s desires to get close to you. Hurt, she is an internal storm that if let go, will destroy every part of what makes your heart warm and inviting.
My moment of “a joy embracing hurt” came this morning when someone was sharing a hurt with me. I felt such deep empathy. It took me back to this same kind of hurt I once had. I suddenly realized there was no way I could have been this compassionate, if I had not been thru this same kind of hurt too. And then, in this moment, I found myself with great joy! Joy that my past hurt was not all for loss, but also, for gain for someone else.
I don’t want to be hurt. I wish at times I didn’t have the memories of Hurts, I have endured. Hurt doesn’t care about me and I try hard to not let her make me this cold, resentful person. But I know Joy can win over hurt. It’s happened to me. I’ve had people embrace me thru my hurts and I’ve made a choice to try to be that kind of person too.
I with no hesitation, told my friend to let go of their hurt. I know what’s on the other side. Sometimes being this vulnerable isn’t easy. Sometimes, letting the storm of hurt have its way, yes, it’s easier. But letting joy Embrace your past hurts in order to help someone else, it’s selfless and beautiful. That’s what I want.
A woman who chose joy 