Change will do ya good....

“Among other things, you'll find that you're not the first person who was ever confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior. You're by no means alone on that score, you'll be excited and stimulated to know. Many, many men have been just as troubled morally and spiritually as you are right now. Happily, some of them kept records of their troubles. You'll learn from them—if you want to. Just as someday, if you have something to offer, someone will learn something from you. It's a beautiful reciprocal arrangement. And it isn't education. It's history. It's poetry.” 
― J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye

Last week, in a cleaning frenzy, I found my copy of J.D. Salinger's, "The Catcher in the Rye".  I hadn't thought about that story in years, or how reading it seemed to change my life or at least,  changed my thinking.  So with book in hand, I begin to flip through the pages, reading a timeless story as a fifty year old woman rather than a naive yet pretendious and troubled teenaged girl.   


At this stage in the journey, the quote above struck a different chord, one of familiarity and certainty rather than a prediction.  Maybe it was this very quote that moved me as a teen and heightened by senses to those struggling around me, I am not sure.

Maybe it was the very struggle to belong, the desire to love and be loved. On this day, at age fifty, those words feel as though they were extracted from my own heart, mind and life! 

ENOUGH

“She made broken look beautiful
and strong look invincible.
She walked with the Universe
on her shoulders and made it
look like a pair of wings.” ~Ariana Dancu

 

Dear Beautiful Broken Friend,

Thank you for showing me the scars from your journey and sharing the story of your healing.  It is through sharing that we heal ourselves and encourage others that the struggle isn't without blessing. As women, we divide ourselves many times over and sometimes need to be reminded we are valued and whole no matter the disjointed pieces of circumstance.  Sometimes I am only strong because I see strength in you....and it gives me hope to think one day I might reciprocate your kindness through example. 

I am grateful for your love, friendship and presence in my life no matter the distance.  Thank you, my earthly angels, for always confirming I AM ENOUGH.

As are YOU.....and so it goes!!!

Always,

Maria