Monday, September 16, 2013

I love you

Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place. Paulo Coelho

And that is why I must see the world as a beautiful place, full of acceptance and love. And sometimes there are moments the Love is very difficult to see- like it was for me last week. And I then I have to talk myself into seeing what was already there all along. Which is really just an indication of how important it is to me. When something about the world gets you feeling big, huge, overwhelming, scary, good, bad, crazy things, that means it contains lessons inside that are vital to your journey in the world. 

Today we speeched. It's always the highlight to my Monday. Grey's Teacher was out, so we just cheered on Doodle...

 photo IMG_3823_zps86ebca36.jpg

 photo IMG_3820_zps3c8d0736.jpg


And jumped.

 photo IMG_3797_zps3c3a09ae.jpg
And air guitar'ed while jumping.


I love-- I love you. The phrase and everything about it. I think it's totally underused. 

 photo IMG_3810_zpsa829748f.jpg



 photo IMG_3815_zps5522009d.jpg



Sometimes I love the person in the Starbucks drive thru. I guess it's a conditional love- because I love them on the condition they hand me my sugary caffeinated goodness. But darnit- it's still love. I love to say I love you. Today I said it to the gal at the coffee drive thru window, mostly just to see what she would say. I handed her my money, she handed me my coffee. Thank you for my coffee, I said. I love you.  I saw her eyes open a little wider as she let out a slightly nervous laugh. You're welcome? she said and then abruptly changed the subject. I know it's a weird thing to do-tell a stranger I love you- but I honestly love people, and besides, the more love we put out, the more love we receive. 

I think we are supposed to love everyone anyway. The book of Romans, written by Apostle Paul says, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

So I am practicing loving. Loving my neighbor. Loving myself. I'm practicing loving people that don't even give me coffee. I'm practicing loving people who are angry and unkind- I'm not very good at that one. I think those people need it the most though.

When did we become so guarded with our love? I think it starts to happen when we start to fear that it may not be returned. Maybe we feel hurt or rejected. We are afraid of feeling bad and stupid and rejected again. What if we just loved and loved without an expectation of how it will be received or if it will be returned? What if we loved simply to love? That sounds so much lighter and easier and scary too. It pulls me from both ways which means that it is important to me.


Last week when I was sad, I carried that sad like a virus for at least 48 hours. I shared my sad with the paths I crossed. Sad is contagious. But the upside is - love is too. It even multiplies. The more love I see, the more I think that love is its own Super Power. Sometimes it's hard to love when we are scared of how it will be received. Sometimes it's hard to love when we see evidence of hate. We must love anyway. 


I think art is an expression of love and pain. It's like our insides leaking out. And when it's really important to you, you hope others will love your art too...and love your love.Your acting or writing or cooking or painting or photography or love. And I think that's why we respond to some forms of art- because it makes us feel our very own custom mixture of love and pain when we escape into it. And for me- there is a fear that you will not find my love pretty or worthy or good enough. And it's scary putting my love out there- but it's much scarier not putting it out there. And like loving simply to love, sometimes it's good to art simply to art. Without fear of how it will be received. 

I think last night I was struggling with writing about love because I don't really know what love is. I know what it feels like, but that's kind of like trying to describe what the color blue looks like. Vague. Think about it- how would you define love? What does love mean to you? Isn't it so simple that it's complicated? It is for me, but I'm a self-acclaimed over thinker.

There is no perfect love here on Earth. Love. Real love. It's so much less glamorous and messy and slow and boring and complicated and simple than I ever expected. It's every day. No matter what. All the time. Highs and lows and deeper and bigger and truer and blood and oxygen and inhale and exhale and a million different things and nothing at all. Getting loved, like really loved is hard. It's vulnerable. It's scary. It means I feel like I can't live without this. I wouldn't be okay without that. And loving ourself. So hard. So really very hard. Probably for me the hardest of all.

I always thought love's primary language was words. I love you. Words like sonnets and love letters and Shakespeare and songs and emotions and You make me feel like this. Greyson and Parker can't talk though, and I love them- and I know for certain they love me, so love can't just be words.

 photo IMG_3852_zpsbc33efe9.jpg

I know that's love. I can see it. I feel it.

So then I thought love's secondary language was hands on doing... But same deal- Neither the dogs or the boys Do. I mostly have to do for them.

So I guess Love just is. It's just there. It doesn't have to speak and it doesn't have to do. I think that's why I was having trouble writing about love last night. I wanted an ending to it. I wanted it to make sense in a way I could describe and quantify and fold up and put into a cute box. I tried to make it definable and specific. But I guess that's part of Love's magic. Love isn't restrictive or a skin color or a sexual preference or based on a list of requirements. It doesn't die because someone dies. It's hard to pin down and rationalize and explain. Real love just is. We don't have to HAVE or BE or DO anything to be worthy of love. 

 photo photo-87_zps189a00d1.jpg


So, there is no end to this. I guess it goes on forever. That's a good thing. 
I love you. I honestly, really and truly do.

Love, loved, love,

Chrissy


8 comments:

  1. Beautifully said, Chrissy! :-) I think I can set some of what you said to music... or a soundtrack, I guess... one of my favourite singers is a fellow Canadian named Paul Brandt. Your words reminded me of one of my favourite songs of his. (Which is rather like picking a favourite snowflake...) These are the lyrics. You can hear the song on YouTube. http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/paulbrandt/giveitaway.html

    Loving definitely feels better than not loving, but sure is scary being "exposed" like that. Hard to keep from retreating back into my shell... think maybe it's about practicing not staying in my shell as often, or for as long. Don't think I can be shell-less, yet.

    Hope you have an especially wonderful, love filled Tuesday!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. As I read your blog it made sense of today real love just is...perfect...thank you

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love that picture of you and Doodle.
    I think love is an energy maybe.
    I know we can send it just by thinking it - which is pretty cool when you think about it.
    (couldn't get back to sleep out here on the east coast but going to try again now filled with good thoughts)
    Thank You :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. What a beautiful post, Chrissy. I do appreciate the encouragement to LOVE when there is little to expect in return...or the opposite, we're afraid of being close to someone who already loves us! I'm inspired today as I walk out of my house (two babies in tow and frazzled and distracted!), to love thy neighbor. Thank you also for the reference to scripture. Always a pleasure. Bless you!!
    Beth Chuhay (Virginia)

    ReplyDelete
  5. This reminds me of the home-work I did with my 6 year old, Luke, last night. We had to read and discuss his book on "filling your bucket" by exchanging kindnesses with people you encounter, and how you get your own bucket filled. Wonderful to give love and hopefully to receive it back! I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love you, too!
    And I love Greyson and Parker and your whole beautiful family.
    I love your heart, and how beautifully and willingly you share it with others.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love you too! I have been reading your blog for a little while now and I just think you are doing such a great job with your little ones. I have two kids under 4 and not many or really any friends at the moment,(somewhat my own fault because of isolating myself but feeling too anxious to get back out there...) your blog makes me feel a little more connected so I truly thank you for that. Your boys are very blessed to have a Mum like you.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love you, sweet Friend! A very beautiful post. The picture of Doodle with his hands on your face most certainly IS love.
    I was drawn to you and your art by your love for your family & those boys. I could FEEL it all the way over here in Indiana - through your words & photos.
    I was talking with my son a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure why we were on the topic but we were talking about all the people we love. He mentioned our neighbors, who we aren't really all that close to. I said, "Well, we really like Jim & Doug, but I'm not sure we love them". "Yes we do, Mom. We love everybody in our neighborhood". And I was worried that maybe he should learn the difference between who we love and who is just someone we know, then I thought why? "You are right, son. We do love everyone." However, we haven't proclaimed our love to Jim or Doug just yet :)
    Love & happiness to you, sweet Momma xoxoxo Jennifer

    ReplyDelete