I recognized something pretty awesome today and then realized how inspired I was by these current events, I knew it was time to blog and release it to the universe in hopes of it reaching exactly who needs it. (Brace yourselves because this post has NOTHING to do with public health and/or vaccines! 😉)
My realization is multi-fold. I continue to be so excited around reigniting and being drawn closer to some of my childhood/female friendships, reconnecting with friends of 20+ years on a deeper level, and realizing the incredible depth and beauty in some of my newer friendships. There also happens to be a common denominator between all of these incredible friends, they are all in some stage of hurt and pain. It ranges between severity and situation, as each have their own unique path to navigate. I found myself (I do a lot of this, apparently) counting the number of girlfriends involved and I came to a total of 10 of my friends all in different stages of life or marriage, but EVERY SINGLE ONE is seeking how to trust their soul instead of their ego.
I was texting with a dear friend of 25 years today. We had lost touch for quite some time over the years, but over the past few we have become much more consistent with contact. She has always been one of the humans in life that I have metaphorically put on a pedestal. She was one of two incredible mentors in my life and if I still tried to be like someone else in life instead of just being me, she would be one. She is they type of woman that is confident enough to know that she is easy on the eyes, but would be uncomfortable to credit herself with much more. The thing is, the person everyone else sees is this incredibly smart, hands down hilarious (takes one to know one), witty, change agile, easy going, respectful, empathetic, genuine and inclusively kind soul. She has no idea that the reflection that she sees in her mirror is not the same as I (we all) see. She is the life of the party because her energy is magnetic. I have repeatedly watched how people flock to her, she’s just “one of those people”, ALL DAY LONG. She’s a “crazy people magnet” and knows how to make every single person she comes in contact with, no matter the “cray cray” level, feel valued.
I had reached out after noticing some self love/inspirational memes she had posted on social media. We ended up texting for a while and I literally had empathy pains for her as I read her messages. She, like my other girlfriends are in need of having their self mirrors de-fogged. Sometimes it’s great to have a vent sesh with your girls, I’m all about throwing down some crappy energy to release it. However, on the flip side, I am much more inspired through and have witnessed much more growth through empowerment by acting as a mirror to the soul inside their body, not their ego shell.
My girlfriend introduced me to a quote that I really appreciate. “My pain is my gift, and I am not alone.” For me, I truly needed to feel the pain to appreciate and release it. You need to feel it to create muscle memory and begin to know wether it ultimately serves your soul, or not. Unfortunately, most of us feel the pain that is being projected upon us by others. Hurt people, hurt people. It’s time to start helping each other recognize and then compartmentalize which pain truly belongs to ourselves, and the pain which we carry from others whom are also suffering. What a great way to honor ourselves and each other by recognizing that pain often occurs with growth and that it’s part of pushing through the old norm to a create a new one.
Keep unwrapping those gifts, my girls. You are NOT ALONE. You’ve ALL got this, and I’ve got you. All boats rise with the tide my friends, and your tides are rolling in.
“Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it.”
So much love and respect.
xo- e
The Underground Momma 