I want to talk about love.
I went to a funeral last week. A close friend had lost her Dad, and the church was full, overflowing, with family and friends. The 3 siblings spoke so beautifully between tears and laughter and fond memories of a man who sounds like he was a very unique character.
What struck me was the simple things that his children remembered. Hair being ruffled, being listened to, feeling supported. Feeling cherished.
Love is more than a word. It is listening and truly hearing. It is forgiving others for their flaws and disappointments, so we don't harden our hearts against them. It is filling in your partner's immigration card on a plane. It is unpacking the dishwasher. It is reading the same story over and over to your children. It is knowing that everyone is going through something. It is releasing judgment, resentment and hurts that take up valuable heart space. Sometimes it is letting go. Sometimes it is holding on. It is encouraging the dreams and passions of others. It is releasing the need to be right.
Friends were over on the weekend, and we had such a fun night of cocktails and games. At one stage I looked around at this combo of people aged from 15 to 76, and I was just overwhelmed by what everyone had dealt with in their lives. Loss, divorce, grief, trauma, illness ... and yet. And yet, here they were, full of so much laughter and huge smiles and hilarity. Full of love.
We do the best we can today, knowing that tomorrow will be different in big or small ways. And often the best thing we can do is to love a little more. Hug a little tighter. Send a message to a friend to let them know you are thinking of them. Stick a love note on the bathroom mirror for your partner. Paste their toothbrush. Put a hot water bottle in your child's bed. Love yourself the way you are right now.
It is in the smallest actions that love counts the most. It is the way you make someone feel that they remember. What can you do today to help someone feel supported, loved and cherished? And can you allow yourself to remain open to receiving the love sent your way?
Much love,
Amanda xx
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