I was at a great 12 step meeting last night where the topic was “opening our hearts” to the travelers on our path, whoever they might be. \u00a0I am personally convinced that we could heal the wounds of the world if every one of us offered a “heart-felt” expression even once a day. \u00a0It wouldn’t be that difficult. \u00a0We could begin with the first person we see upon arising. \u00a0For many of us that would be a family member and how often do we walk right by them on our way to pouring that first cup of coffee without even acknowledging them with a kind “good morning.” \u00a0We could make it a practice of saying some thing loving the first time we speak every morning, whether to the person in our midst or during a phone call from a friend. \u00a0Or even with a stranger.<\/p>\n
Taking this practice to the second person and then the third person we see will become easier. \u00a0Practice makes any exercise easier. \u00a0And this is, after all, an exercise of the mind. \u00a0Coupled, of course, with action. Nothing more. \u00a0But the results will be profound. This I can promise. \u00a0I have seen it at work in my own life. \u00a0I use to wait for others to pay me a kindness before I’d offer it. \u00a0And when it wasn’t forthcoming, I was certain I wasn’t worthy. \u00a0I was being ignored for a reason<\/strong>. I carried that sense of unworthiness with me for decades.<\/p>\n I’m not sure why I turned the tables on it. \u00a0I no longer remember what initiated my decision to try a different approach, but being the first to speak, to smile, to reach out a hand in kindness closed the gap I so often felt existed between me and all others. \u00a0How nice that the gap has been closed. \u00a0And now I close the gap every chance I get. \u00a0With friends and strangers too.<\/p>\n Every one needs the soft hand of acknowledgment. \u00a0Every one desires to be heard and appreciated, witnessed and valued. \u00a0In Al-Anon, our closing statement is about helping others and it says, “Let it begin with me.” \u00a0We can do this. \u00a0Every where. \u00a0In all circles. \u00a0In all locations. \u00a0With all people. \u00a0The world would change. \u00a0The universe would shift. \u00a0I’d like to do my part. \u00a0Would you?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I was at a great 12 step meeting last night where the topic was “opening our hearts” to the travelers on our path, whoever they might be. \u00a0I am personally convinced that we could heal the wounds of the world if every one of us offered a “heart-felt” expression even once a day. \u00a0It wouldn’t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[4,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-circle-of-family-and-friends-you-and-your-personal-community","category-reflections-in-the-mirror-you-and-yourself"],"yoast_head":"\n