Love Letter To The Woman In The Mirror

Your willingness to wake each day and approach life with what you have is an act of heroism. I invite you to look in the mirror and acknowledge yourself for the most simple and powerful action you can take – showing up as you.  All of you….

Right where you are-

swimming in the ocean of your broken tender heart, floating on a cloud of joy bubbles, pounding fists into the cold earth strong enough to hold your injustice filled anger, singing sweet harmonies while precious tears bless your skin, running wildly through the fields with tussled hair as you begin your next adventure or tenderly rocking yourself to sleep wrapped in the familiar scent of your love.  All of it and none of it.  Where you are with all of you right where you are………a blessing and whole woman. 

It feels as if we have been shattered into a million pieces and the world beneath has fallen away.

Yes.

Our partner, a best friend, loved ones we dreamed forward with, and the ones who share our memories have moved on without us.  The world is in chaos, divided, and leaves us to wonder what our purpose is.  We are standing in a foreign forest filled with trees of silence and the overflowing river carving a deep hollow void.  It is as if we have lost half of ourselves and have no idea how it happened.  No preparation could teach us how to walk, breathe, see, or smell with only half of our senses.  The reality that stood before us is gone.  The real schooling happens when there is no other choice and the unthinkable becomes reality.

And today, you are standing in front of a mirror wondering who this woman is.  It is easy to forget who we are when we have been carved of our hearts joy, our dreams, and reality.  We can get caught in the current that drowns out the inner voice anchored in truth.  That is okay.  It takes a bit to catch our breath, readjust our vision, and reach for the life preserver.  You will remember.  Keep breathing.

Until you rediscover her, let the mirror whisper the truth.  Until you reclaim her, let yourself melt into the collective bowl of wisdom held by the women who’ve walked before.

Your wings are resting, they are not broken.  You are a woman with wisdom navigating the fullness of life.  You are healing.  You are breathing.  Your heart loves deeply and therefore mourns deeply – that is precious.  Your tears are blessings.  It takes courage to learn new things.  It takes courage to try.  You are brave to sit with and tend your heart.   Releasing the flood of emotions including anger, frustration and joy are cleansing and healthy.  You deserve compassion, patience, and space to heal at your own pace.

Self-love and gratitude must become a daily ritual.  Honor the woman who stands before you in the mirror and look into her eyes.  Celebrate her willingness to show up and carry you forward into another day.  Embrace her fears and victories, mistakes and successes, surrenders and battles – all of it.  It is what makes her whole, precious, out of this world stunningly breathtaking, and a force of nature.

Witness what tasks she faces today that scare her and then honor her willingness to try.  Nourish her with warm blankets, good books, supportive friends, a haircut, ice cream, extra naps, delicious food, and a good laugh.   Surround her with sunshine, fresh air, music, art, blooming flowers, or whatever lights her soul.

Every day, give her what she needs to heal, grow, and bloom. Every night, give her gratitude, kindness, and appreciation for all that she has been.  And then bless her for all that she will be tomorrow while reminding her of the precious woman that looks back at her in the mirror.