Sweet Darkness

This week I had a day where my emotions would not be contained.

There has been a mountain of change in my life over the past 6 months and although I have walked through it with my eyes and heart wide open yesterday I felt cracked open by emotion.

A walk by a stream, lots of tissues and a few conversations with loved ones near and far brought me some perspective.

The writing I had planned to do didn’t get done. The blog post I had planned to write didn’t get written.

I had to draw on every ounce of self-compassion to avoid jumping to unfair conclusions about my self worth.

It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that I was finally able to come up for air. It felt especially sweet.

That evening because I let myself go down and suspended judgment, I was able to be present with the 3 friends I had dinner with. Our conversation was authentic and each of us felt cared for.

One gem from the evening was the mention of this poem, ‘Sweet Darkness’ by David Whyte.

I’d like to read it to you now.

Click here…Sweet Darkness

Sweet Darkness

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

~ David Whyte ~

(House of Belonging)

When your emotions call out to you, go into the darkness. Love yourself while you’re there.

Then, come out into the fresh air that awaits you.