The road to healing has no map, but we do come to this world loaded with an internal GPS-our Intuition-if we choose to pay attention. Whenever I post a blog or share about this road I’m on, I get messages (like the one below) from men and women vulnerable enough to open up and show up. People I have met face-to-face as well as complete “strangers.” I think it’s important to share some of their words (anonymously) because it’s how we relate. If not for the stories of others, how do we know we’re not alone-especially when it feels like we are? To feel seen and heard. To know that there’s value and purpose in our suffering. That the sharp pains will not last forever. And that it will get better if we continue to allow ourselves the space and grace necessary for the balm to do its job.
Not to ignore, push away, force down with food or drink, or pretend it hasn’t happened. To acknowledge that it sucks. To embrace the shittiness of it all and still get up every day and ask, “how can I serve?” How can what I’m going through help someone else? And that, in turn, helps me. It’s always in the giving that we receive- a fundamental truth that we don’t all seem to understand.
Compassion. Kindness. Empathy. The giving of this kind soul was just what I needed to hear that day. I KNOW she was speaking from experience. Her pouring her love onto me helped her to heal-at least a tiny bit, if not more. Although she was thanking me, I am thanking her!
I will continue to write and share as part of my healing process. Getting it out of my head and onto the page is cathartic. I still have so much yet to say. I hope I continue to receive emails such as this. Together, as a collective, we can grow with grace and love and better support one another. We are really good at projecting our fears into the world, whether we acknowledge (or know) we’re doing it or not. It’s my prayer that we can begin to project our faith onto each other instead.
I get up every morning and light a candle for Joe. For him and for me. A reminder to myself that I will NEVER forget the life we shared and that no matter how it ended, there was purpose and meaning to all of it. Every. Single. Moment.
Hope floats.
“For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
-Jeremiah 29:11
“Thank you Marie 
You are always in my thoughts and prayers .I thoroughly enjoy you sharing your journey. I am quite possibly your biggest cheerleader.
I still grieve my first husbands tragic death. Somehow it feels like through your sharing, joys, heartbreaks and insights you are reaching out your hand to others. You lift me up and it feels like you are saying, “come on girls, there is life to live and there are children and grandchildren that need us.” “We got this”. Life is wonderful. You remind me that no matter the grief and heartache , Hope Floats.“
You’re welcome, and thank YOU!!
xo, and peace.
Marie
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I just want the pain to stop… (video)
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