The bees buzzed around me with all their potential to sting. What will I do?
Choosing Softness
It can be so easy to convince ourselves that we have to be hard and tough. Even here in our gratitude collective a few weeks ago I was talking about fighting. In times when there is violence and unspeakable horror our softness feels like a dangerous vulnerability. We want to grow hard callouses to protect our hearts. It can feel like the only choice. But we can also choose to be soft.
Yesterday as I was preparing for my gratitude workshop I was trimming some flowers from blue mist bushes. The bushes were covered with bees buzzing here and there. I am very comfortable with bees and I am always very calm around them while also respecting them. This has always worked out well for me when I am in their presence. So I walked up slowly but confidently. I waved my hand to let them know I was there, pushing the air around before I reached in. They flew off to another area of the bush clearing the way for me to do my work.
It dawned on me that my work did not take precedence over their work. And there were enough bushes that we could work side by side at the same time. They had the potential to sting me and I had the potential to swat at them and hurt them. But I chose to remain soft. It made me vulnerable but did not increase my chances of being injured.
I want to choose softness more in my life. For many years I took pride in being tough but now I take pride in being soft. My heart open and soft displayed to the world in soft loving expressions and communication. But it takes practice and intention because that level of vulnerability is still new and a challenge for me.
But when I really think about it, I have been practicing softness for as long as I have been practicing gratitude. Because when I feel gratitude I feel open and soft. When I practice gratitude I am vulnerable and open. Practicing gratitude and softness is so very important for our self-care our self-growth and our connection to others in our community.
How will you practice softness this week?
Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place.
~Iain Thomas
What are grateful to feel when your heart is open and soft?
FORGOTTEN GRATITUDE: Last week I was also grateful for waking up in the morning with everything new and possible – My time solo time on Saturday mornings with my plants – Feeling my feelings.
[su_button url=”http://www.ourgratitudecollective.com/members/antonia/” background=”#eaf62d” color=”#999999″ size=”20″ center=”yes”]Click for Antonia’s Shared Gratitude[/su_button]
[su_button url=”http://www.ourgratitudecollective.com/activity/” background=”#999999″ color=”#eaf62d” size=”20″ center=”yes”]Click to See Our Collective Gratitude[/su_button]
[su_note note_color=”#e7e7e7″ text_color=”#686767″ radius=”0″] My gratitude journey started in May 2011 and continues to this day. Thank you for being a part of it! A daily gratitude practice is simple. Write down three things you are grateful for each day. Download your free GratitudeGuide. My clients focus on gratitude and learn from their successes to make the positive changes they want in their lives. You can too. Call me to set up our first meeting 505.333.9336. [/su_note]