Why both the dark and the Light are GREAT teachers!

February 1, 2013 by Mastin Kipp 49 Comments

As I sit in the beautiful hotel here in Jamaica overlooking the Caribbean Sea, I cannot help but feel what a bittersweet moment this is.

First, I want to thank you for all your Love and support over the last few days – it has been overwhelming and beautiful!

I just shared an amazing lunch with dear friends including Tommy Rosen and Kia Miller. I arrived just a few hours ago in Jamaica for the Caribbean Yoga Conference. It’s been a tough week with the passing of my dear friend Jody Sherman still fresh in my heart.

The moment is bittersweet because I am within and inside of my dream. Just a few short years ago a moment like this would seem impossible and so far off. And yet, here I am, giving a speech in the Caribbean. Trip was paid for. Friends are around.

And sadness prevails in my heart.

While my mind understands that life goes on, while my mind understands that Love is all there is, the grieving process cannot be prevented because I have knowledge of such things.

One of the main reasons why I do what I do is because I want to inspire people not to try to do a spiritual bypass, where they ignore their own hearts and emotions because they claim some kind of spiritual knowledge or power.

True Love is total acceptance of the moment. For me, this moment is bittersweet.

And I’m not going to try to change it, but rather – live it FULLY. Sadness comes with a gift and a lesson, as does joy. The balance of the two is what makes life so rich and fulfilling. The paradox of life, the overflowing bounty of Joy with the heavy pull of sorrow, each bringing their own sweet awareness that reminds us how precious life truly is.

I used to only want to feel joy and never feel sadness. This is part of what fueled my drug addiction: the denial of self.

But, I cannot deny who I am, what I am feeling, and try to push it away to manufacture a false sense of happiness.

No.

I am grateful that as I process these emotions, I am surrounded by friends like Tommy and Kia, who hold such Loving space.

The question today that I have for you is simple – can you let yourself simply be with whatever is coming up? Be it joy. Be it sadness. Be it whatever is there for you.

Would you be able to inquire within and find out – what is this sensation here to teach me? Instead of pushing it away?

As always, the action happens in the comments below. Leave a comment and join the conversation! The TDL Community thrives in the comments and it’s a GREAT place to get support!

Love,

Mastin

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Mastin Kipp is the founder and CEO of The Daily Love. Follow him on Twitter here.

Take what resonates with you in this blog and leave the rest.

Join soulmates Mastin Kipp & Jenna Hall LIVE in Hollywood on Feb 9th for the first TDL LIVE event: The Love & Relationship Workshop! Livestream tickets are also available. Click here to grab your ticket before it sells out!

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Liv

Actually, I really like your approach to painful or otherweise negative emotions or sensations here. Coz turning it around from “Gosh, I don’t want this. Just go away!” to “What is it you have to tell/teach me?” makes you much more able not only to endure a negative feeling but also ti handle it much better. It doesn’t give you power over it but yet you gain some sort of control. You are above the feeling while accepting it as “something there for a reason” and not being “a useless emotion overwhelming me”.
Nice approach!Since I work a lot with patients who suffer from chronical pain… I can really use this in my daily work. Thanks again for yet another great inspiration!
Really love to read your blogposts. Stumbled upon it when I saw you on MarieTV and have really enjoyed reading your thoughts since! Thank you a lot for doing this!!
Ewolf460

If we dont experience darkness, we would never know of the light.
Lisa | Practically Intuitive

Your posts almost always seem to fit the themes of my life. This one in particular hit me. Thanks, Mastin.
Stacey_beth1969

the darkest moments of my life revealed a strength I never knew existed. This strength has fueled my faith to truly KNOW that everything will be okay. I’ve also come to recognize life ebbs & flows. This has taught me to be completely present in the best of times
- lizilynx
  
  I can relate to your sharing of the strength revealed to you that you never knew existed – and “fueling [your] faith to truly KNOW that everything will be okay.”
  My experience has been that by accepting the moment, whatever it brings, honors what feels to me like a ‘test’ of my Faith, in my darker moments – where I NEED my Faith the most!
  
  My biggest challenge is to face everything and avoid nothing; not turning away from what’s coming up and let all be as it is. I felt a shift from the old, false belief, pattern of the tendency to step out of life – to the new true pattern of facing what IS. I felt liberated from myself, not only from false beliefs and the pre-conditions that I set for myself. Once I was aware, I realized that I had put myself in a prison of my own making. It took awareness and practice to get to this shift, but every moment of the practice was so worth it – and gave me a new found strength!
  
  THANK YOU for sharing your experience with us!! Look at how much we have in common )
Amanda D

Great and appropriate post Mastin! We all need to feel both sides of the emotional coin to trulely except and feel them, not cherry pick which we rather feel. I just finished reading the book, The Misadventures of a Garden State Yogi,”by Brian Leaf and his last key to happiness is to become more real and to ask yourself moment to moment “What is real right now?” If right now you feel bittersweet, then that’s how you are feeling, & that’s real right now. It doesn’t mean you will be in 10 seconds or 10 days later. I think we need to actually ourselves this more so we become more real, not spiritual cherry pickers / ego enlightened to block out the rest of our human experience. I have learned from both kinds of experiences myself, not always the most gracefully, but learning none the less.
Genne4

You put it so well. What an easy path to take. If we are ready and willing to follow your lead life will be simple. We ourselves make it hard.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005060892358 Eveline Almeida

I think avoiding pain is part of our culture. A culture that teaches us to pursue security and comfort. A culture that teaches us to follow some steps so we can guarantee our eternal safety. Which is a lie and only bring us even more pain and ways to numb ourselves. The pain will never go away until we learn the lessons it brings. And I’m starting to embrace the pain so I can learn from it.
http://www.rejectingparameters.wordpress.com/ Kristen Michelle Brown

Needed this reminder today. Thanks, Mastin!
T. S.

This post touched me to my core. Tears of joy & perhaps sorrow also. Thank you for sharing your heart here, Mastin. Love & continued prayer for your peace.
Kathleen Frati

My best friend died two years ago…we were both 48 at the time. We had known each other since we were 12 and she and I used to joke that we would finish our friendship together in a retirement home (after we had outlived our husbands). Unfortunately, she developed cancer and fought for her life while in a very unhappy marriage. The cancer won. I was fortunate enough to see her before she died in a semiconscious state where she appeared to be seeing “the other side.” (I have since read some hospice books and this is normal.) She was very curious and happy about it. She died two weeks later.

Of course the news was so sad. I had a special friend who had been brought into my life whose wife had died, so he helped me learn how to allow the grieving to flow through me. The day she died, I let it all out. I opened the gates and let the sadness flow through tears and pain. I knew that if I blocked it, I would grieve much longer than was necessary, and she wouldn’t want that.

After the funeral (which was very difficult), I came to a wonderfully peaceful place about it. I asked the universe “Is that all I get of her?” The universe said “yes”. ”Really?” I asked in great disappointment. “Yes. She lived all that she was able to live on this planet (this go around).”

I realized that we all have a certain amount of energy and “umphf”. Hers just ran out. Your friend’s ran out, too. And it’s okay. It’s the way they wanted it. They were both suffering and were ready to call it quits.

The cool thing is the pain we feel when someone we love dies, is because we really LOVED them. They were an amazing gift in our life and we are forever grateful. So, if I only got 36 years with my soul sister, I am happy with that. So very grateful…:)

Even though I still miss her very much.
Shelly

“The Guest House” by Rumi:”This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor.Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they’re a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.”
Mei

My prayer for you is to feel and embrace the feelings that God had blessed us with. Feel the hurt, absorb it into your being, as this is who you are and what you feel. As much as you feel the hurt, feel the love and joy you had with your friend. Remember those good times and revel in those feelings. His time on earth was a gift from God and was here to show you the miraculous spirit a human can have. Take that spirit with you always in your heart. Let these feelings of love and gratefulness move you forward toward the journey that you were meant for on this earth.
Pramirez88

I recently discovered your blog after watching you on OWN and I have to say how grateful I am to have found you… You’re daily doses of love and inspiration have really helped me on my journey.. Today’s lesson has really touched me
http://www.facebook.com/roxana.nunez Roxana Nunez

I can tell you from personal experience that many a bad habit come from trying to feel only joy and not sorrow. I lost both brothers and one of my best friends in a matter of six years (all for different reasons) and I think it was the times when I ate myself numb.

Addiction is funny that way. Now, as I relearn to think of food as nourishment and not as pain killer, I understand why I cry at weird times. It is my body telling me it is ok to cry for the loss. I just stuffed it in for so long that at times it feels like it comes out of nowhere.

You have reached a very healthy point in your life, the moment you can enjoy what is going on and still give your friend the importance they deserve in your life. Joy and pain are parts of life and we should be able to deal with all of it without any medication, just let it be.

Enjoy Jamaica.
Carol V.

I am new to Daily Love, seeing Mastin on Opra recently, but I am touched by your the subject concerning light and darkness. In fact, I wrote a letter to my son this morning about this issue suggesting he examine what he gains in so called “successes” and “mistakes”. Our lives allow us the opportunity to directly deal with these experiences, and really dig deep if we so desire. When looking back over the course of our lives do we discover that we our “mistakes” really positively impacted our lives, and “successes” brought simply fleeting moments of satisfaction? My point to my son was an invitation to examine whether the “earth” definition of “success” is material in nature… money, status, etc. on the outside/our exterior…. and “mistakes” allow the opportunity to examine our interior/soul… what does this say about me, what can I learn from this, is this who I want to be etc., what would I advise my best friend if he/she was examining the same mistake?

Material sucesses feel great and can bring more sucess, mistakes/loss can deepen our inner self/souls into infinity.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=540688956 Edna Dipini

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for bringing light into this topic of suicide. I am so sorry for your loss. I too lost my best friend MY AUNT to such a tragedy, for years i yearned for answers, lived in guilt and partied my troubles and pain away. It was a great excuse. Till this day I have yet to visit her grave she passed 19 years ago. I think it’s time for a visit.
http://www.are-you-there-kathleen-its-me-god.blogspot.com/ Kathleen Reynolds Chelquist

I was an UP and DOWN junkie. Everyday was the WORST EVER or THE BEST EVER. Rarely, was I treading along at one speed. Why? Because I thought that would be a boring life…and (At that time) don’t you dare call me boring! Although, I wasn’t addicted to drugs, I was addicted to adrenalin and LUST. Boys were my drug, and I did not get married until I was 33 years old. Once I got married, I threw myself into therapy, and asked for any anti-anxitety medication I could get my hands on. The therapist said, “No.” Now, ten years later…I have found that happiness (TRUE happiness and peace) is a chosen practice. It is NOT going UP, UP and staying there the whole time. And, it is still going UP and down (Just not down to the ground). See the difference? WE DO NOT HAVE TO GO DOWN TO THE GROUND. Let’s face it, life is not always going to meet our models and to pretend that we like something when we don’t-is fooling ourselves. Life is about saying, “YES” to those circumstances that are unfavorable…knowing they are here FOR our spiritual growth. AND, we still do not need to create suffering. We go through the pain (cry, breathe, and etc) without SUFFERING. If we CHOOSE to suffer with death, divorce, cancer, and you name it…we are simply not in full surrender. Because when we know (not just intellectually) who we really are (Love) and who everyone else really is (Love) there is NOTHING we can’t handle. THIS IS THE SHAKESPEARE STAGE OF LIFE. THIS IS EARTH SCHOOL. What part do you want to play? I know, hard to believe. If I were reading this…I would definitely be rolling my eyes. This is why, I will be doing a reality YOUTUBE of our “Living Love Class” with CInnamon Lofton. My words are not enough. You need to see it with your own eyes…the mirror of who you really are (LOVE) through Cinnamon. And, if you are willing to fully listen and open your heart…your life will never be the same. I promise. Coming soon…
The Daily Commenter,
Kathleen
are-you-there-kathleen-its-me-god.blogspot.com/
http://profile.yahoo.com/7KJRVUWWFM3TVV2VLSPZYYGYNY Stacey

I lost my mom 3 months ago to cancer after a tough 2 year fight. As an only child of a single parent, I was her daily caretaker and cared for her until I was forced to place her in hospice. It was very hard for me to not have her at home but her mind had gone and there was no other option. I spent every day with her until her very last breath (which is a vivid memory I find hard to shake.) Today is her birthday. I have been grieving through the holidays and today seems to be unbearable. Amazing how you see or hear something at just the right moment. I have been isolating myself and trying to push the pain away, which has been impossible. I know I have to go through it. Its the only way out. Without sorrow, you don’t appreciate joy. I know how short and precious life is. Time to get back to living it. My mom would want that.
- Joy
  
  Stacey your post touched me so I prayed for you. I can understand your pain as I am the single parent of a 20 year old son and I’ve had some health issues lately and hospitalizations, including a stroke on Jan 2nd 2013. My heart knows that my son is worried about me, and his future and not expressing his emotions. I trust God and I KNOW that I am healing and I’ve claimed perfect health again. Illness was just something I have to go through right now probably to evolve into my higher self. After reading Mastin’s blog I know that I have to allow myself to feel all of these emotions and not just pretend that I am stronger than I am. I also have to encourage my son to do the same. I am happy to see your optimism. May you be blessed and may we all walk in the light of good mental and physical health the rest of our lives.
- Jay Grizzly
  
  Be encourage Stacey, you can make it through, by going through.
- Sandypeckinpah
  
  Stacy, your post took such courage to write. I felt your pain and wanted to send you a prayer and blessings for you to heal. Loss is not easy, but surprisingly you will someday miss the deep sorrow. In it there’s a connection that reflects the deepest love. I know, because I lost my son when he was just 16. You said it perfectly, “without sorrow you don’t appreciate joy.” Since my son died, I have never taken a single day for granted. Love to you.
Beth

For me, when I feel the “negative” emotions, they are almost always rooted in fear. It usually is fear that I am not good enough. That fear is a signal for me to go within, not deny the fear but accept it and look to the divine within me. When I am able to make that connection, I can find trust and I know that all is how it should be. Living in the present moment and realizing that is the best gift we can give ourselves helps to smooth out the peaks and valleys. Love yourself and you will help everyone – we are all one.
Misskitty69

I love reading your blog, your insight and honesty is truly inspiring. Today’s post is so moving and heartfelt and for me, one of the best posts you have ever written. It seems that out of this unfortunate situation you are also growing so what a testament to your blog today. Thank you for sharing your triumphs, failures and your journey. Many Blessings to you always. Namaste!
Cathy

For me, this is probably one of the most valuable lessons I had to learn before I could move into more connected living. To accept the real…not try to avoid it. Go with it. Deal with it. Feel it. Look for the lesson. And then carry on…not an easy thing to do sometimes. But when I have difficulty or see that I haven’t been on track, I just start over again. I love what is being shared here for many reasons but also because it reminds me every day to share the love in my heart. SHARE IT!!!! And it grows. And it spreads. With love, Cathy
Joy

Thank you Mastin for a Great Blog that I will be keeping. The past year has been trying, especially health wise and this blog today helped me to realize that I have to experience my emotions. They must be felt and released so I’m not going to pretend to be experiencing anything other than what I am experiencing. I will embrace both the darkness so that I can enjoy the light just over the horizon. I had only been allowing myself to watch comedies but I will now allow myself to cry to release that which needs to be released so that I can truly heal. I will validate all of my feelings.
Sheri Woltz

I resently told a friend ” I’m having a hard time. even though I know deep down I’m okay and at peace, I still have to acknowlede I’m having a hard time right now.” I feel that these moments are here to teach us. Very often I don’t know what the lesson is until much later. But I am will to be here, with ‘this’ feeling right now. As they say at Against the Stream- This is how it is now.
Lori Krell

Mastin, you have an incredilbe opportunity to feel, be with and process the conscious and unconscious emotions
that soak every cell of your being…at the yoga conference, you can take a JourneyDance
class with founder Toni Bergins. You
spirit can soar and your heart itself free through the process created in the
class. My love to her through you….blessings, Lori Krell. Bayside, CA
Jay Grizzly

Great question Mastin. A few months ago I realized the importance of fully feeling and being engaged in whatever emotions I was having. At the time it was sadness and kept manifesting in bouts of crying fits and anger. I began to allow myself to be fully emerged in these bouts whenever they occurred. What I found was that the began to lessen in frequency and time length. Eventually, when the painful event popped up randomly in my awareness I had a feeling of complete relief. It was plain to me that I had successfully processed the emotion and event by not denying it. Now, I practice this with whatever emotion I am having and find that it is easier to live past the event if I allow it the space to be and leave….
Krista Croix

Thank you TDL. Without the dark, I wouldn’t know to search for the light. I am so very happy that I have become a part of TDL, as I have found a light to follow.
JackieMcD

In my experience the death of a loved one is an opportunity for finding lessons to learn and reasons to grow. Birth and death being a part of the same cycle of life It all goes together. I was with my father and my mother-in-law as they each took their last breathe more than 12 years ago and felt it an honor and privilege to be in that space as they crossed over. I believe that they and all the others I have lost in my life left me with a precious gift of their presence in my life and still watch over me. Mastin, I hope you take in all the love that is being offered and move forward remembering all the gifts Jody left for you in your memories and your heart space.
Tal

This reminds me of Brene Brown’s approach to sitting in your vulnerability. Let yourself feel your tough emotions and run through you, and then learn from what made you feel that way. Blocking or rejecting these emotions by distracting ourselves doesn’t help. My heart goes out to you and Jody’s family and friends – I wish you the best as you move through your emotions Mastin.
Holly

Hello Mastin,

I so appreciate your honesty and your writing. I love this quote about grief by Gerald May:

Grief is neither a disorder nor a healing process; it is a sign of health itself, a whole and natural gesture of love.

Nor must we see grief as a step towards something better.

No matter how much it hurts – And it may be the greatest pain in life – Grief can be an end in itself, a pure expression of love.

Holly
Neeraj Karandikar

I totally agree with you. I would also like to add that recently when I realized that I actually am running away from negative and sad emotions and avoiding them instead of handling them and managing them, I have started to try and accept negativity whenever and however it approaches me.
I cannot say I am completely successful in acceptance yet, but I surely find it much easier to accept than to run away.
Neeraj Karandikar

I totally agree with you. I would also like to add that recently when I realized that I actually am running away from negative and sad emotions and avoiding them instead of handling them and managing them, I have started to try and accept negativity whenever and however it approaches me.I cannot say I am completely successful in acceptance yet, but I surely find it much easier to accept than to run away.
pb

Yesterday my cousin died! I will mourn and know she is happy. Love & God be with her.
Thank you for the post.
Amanda N.

What I am coming to recognize is the pain within myself must be honored — and through this honoring, I feel a deep sense of compassion for myself and for my protected heart. I am now beginning to just allow myself to feel whatever is real in the present moment, and have actually recently been asking myself, “what can I learn from this?” and it’s amazing how liberating of a process that has become for me. What’s that phrase they use when you are driving in the rain or snow…, “Turn into the skid?” It’s miraculous how just giving attention to our darkness is sometimes all we need to allow the light to come back in…
jaz

Thank you for having the courage to share your sadness and still being able to continue to share your blog. Everyone who has lost someone can relate to where you are. It is most difficult to keep your focus during this time and see the great purpose of your own life. I have been struggling with a loss for the past three years. Not many people like to talk about death, deal with it or help someone through the process. It truly takes a strong individual who is selfless that can help their friends in time of need. Thank you Masten for sharing and having the courage to continue your purpose. You have helped me so much that I get up every day just to read what you have to say then I can stand a little taller and walk with just a little more confidence while I try to build myself up again.
http://dyannebrown.com/ dyannebrown

I am experiencing my sadness today and have been for the past couple days. I was trying to pretend to have it all together and I just realized that I have to stop. I pride myself on being strong, but I realize that I have to fall apart some times. If I don’t, then I am not allowing myself to feel my real human feelings. So, today, I am loving on me. I am feeling all that I feel and letting myself off the hook from being perfect and knowing the right thing to do. Without sadness or challenges, I might have just kept pushing myself forward without stopping to check-in with myself to see how I really feel. So, maybe, the gift of sadness is that it reminds us to stop and take our emotional temperature. It gives you a reason to be introspective and to figure out how you really feel about the people, places and things in your life.
- Rksdammicci
  
  You hit the nail on the head! Allowing ones self to BE volunerable enough to grive has been my challenge. My father and brother-in-law passed a week apart around christmas. Honoring my feelings wherever they are in that present moment is scary. Especially when you are the “strong one”…
  - http://dyannebrown.com/ dyannebrown
    
    I understand your fear and I honor your feelings. Trust this in processing your feelings, the grief will not break you. You are strong, so know that you will survive it. Another thing I’ve found is that the pain lasts much longer when we hold onto it than when we go through it. Cry, scream or do whatever you need to do to get it out of your body. If you’re not vocal, then write a letter. You can write an angry letter if that is how you feel, but get it out. Once it is out, you will begin to heal. And, don’t judge your feelings. Grief brings many surprising things up. If you feel it, you can heal it. Give yourself the love that you give others and allow yourself to breakdown. Surprisingly, you will still be strong, but it will be for yourself instead of someone else.
http://mariner2mother.wordpress.com/ Susan S.

Mastin- my heart goes out to you as I, too have been grieving. My mentally ill mother took her life the day before Christmas. Over the month or so since then, I have been processing grief, looking at her and my lives, and dealing with life in the meanwhile. Today I sat down and had a wonderfully healing session with a woman who has been my teacher, and who acted as a medium for me and mom today. I was interested to know how she’s doing now (convalescing and healing at her pace), and to learn about life lesson dynamics between the two of us. Moving through the sadness and grief has been quite a process; lots of tears and writing it out. And I am learning to be patient with myself in this process.

I am learning how important it is to keep my energy moving, flowing. That to be able to move beyond life’s stressors, hurts, and struggles, I need to let it all process and move through. May your sadness and pain move quickly, allowing joy to predominate once again.
Clarke_latisha

MASTIN………. I AM A JAMAICAN… AND SINCE YOUR IN JAMAICA… I WOULD LOVE TO MEET MY SPIRITUAL GUIDE (YOU MASTIN) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE… HELP ME SHARE THE LOVE DAILY HERE IN JAMAICA. THANKS
Cece

Yes, I can sit in what is coming up. I dont enjoy it, but I allow it, because I know that the only way is throught it.
http://widism.com/ Clayton Elliott

I feel your pain Mastin, and my condolences go out to you and Jody’s family and friends. Losing a dear friend is so hard, and the pain can cut so deep.

My dearest friend “Littles” passed away November 27th, 2010. His passing was a mistake, but most overdoses are. He was 24 years young. We were inseparable best friends and partners in crime since I was 13 and he was 11. He was, and will always be, the funniest, most charismatic individual I’ve ever known to exist. He had immense light to shine on the world, but he had a strong shadow too.

And although I think about him and miss him everyday, I also think about how fortunate I am to have had such an incredible soul choose me as his best friend. Instead of missing the times we could have had in the future making me sadder in the present, I’m endlessly grateful for the time we spent with each other and the unforgettable moments we shared together. It took time (and some plant-teacher wisdom) to get to this place I’m at now, but I’m here.

Sending you love and support Mastin.
Evelyncarayannis

I am really touched by your sharing and encouraging that “it’s okay to be exactly where you are for this moment and today”. I am sorry for your loss. It is so necessary to sit with all the feelings no matter how hard. Thank you for bringing me to my heart again.
Smilemaker8156

Di

During one of my darkest moments, grieving for my Mom, who I had lost in 1989 to breast cancer, so many years ago; I came across a Precious Moments Angel Statue that she had given me in 1979 to commemorate my wedding day of 07/07/1979.

The marriage produced two beautiful children that I would raise alone for many years. After my divorce in 1985, I stored the statue away not knowing if I would ever value it again for it’s intended commemoration.

On one particularly dark afternoon, with tears dripping from my cheeks and what felt like a sudden nudge, I noticed the statue. I had forgotten that I had actually pulled it out of its hidden location but hadn’t found the right spot for it.

I turned the statue over and read the inscription for the first time since 1979. This is what was inscribed: “…But love goes on forever. ” 1979 JONATHAN & DAVID LIC ENESCO IMPORTS

I immediately felt a great surge that could only be my Mother’s embrace! The memory of that moment will live on in my life forever. It taught me that our moments of darkness are actually necessary to feel the embrace; and feel the presence of the everlasting love that surrounds each and every one of us.

On that day, my Mom, sent me a very important message. I now understand that those messages are always there just waiting to be noticed. I live each day of my life being alert to the next message that will embrace me.

I so hope that this short story will bring peace and embrace to everyone who reads it.

Thank you to everyone here and Mastin for the never ending source of daily inspiration and comfort this website is delivering to me.

Peace and Embrace.
Di
http://www.facebook.com/fireflyslocket Valerie Marie Rutherford

I’ve always been easily triggered, but I’ve been going through a low energy time, where it’s hard to get past my triggers. I know I need to feel what I’m feeling for a reason, but I’ve had times in my life, where I’ve been so panicked that I almost had to go to the hospital. Knowing how bad things can get makes me scared any time I start feeling anything close to that. I believe in the power of emotions and that they are all valuable, but it’s hard for me to be with some emotions, when I’m terrified of how bad it can get.
http://www.facebook.com/freehighfives Kendra Wright

Hey Mastin, there was a great quote in your email blast about a pearl and how important the damage was to create that pearl. It was at the top of the email that went out with this post. I can’t seem to find the email, can someone email me the quote? If so, I would be so grateful! Here’s my email: punk_pants@hotmail.com. If you can’t find it, I understand. Thanks!