One view at a time and shared differences

Sometimes, just sometimes it may help to adjust your lens and realize that things will never be as they once were.

To realize that folks will never really be on the same page, nor hold the same beliefs or the same good times with the same humor, heartache, or feelings or views.

Yet, it is possible I do believe for everyone to learn to create their own stain glass window within, to shine brightly even in the darkest hours and to be their best selves.

In all the years, all the paths walked I have yet to meet more than a handful of families that did not wear the usual label of dysfunction at its finest.  I have yet to be less than amazed at the negativity where lightness and positive spins could have be chosen. Patterns, habits and ways of doing seem to get ingrained and take over it seems, lovely pieces of cherished glass shattered over events and times, leaving holes in hearts along with a mess needing to be repaired.

Sometimes happening by circumstance, bad luck, errors of judgment ... or choices.

So many can look at the very same things and see them so very differently; hear a story and come back interpreting it making one shake their head in wonder if they had heard it at all.

People tend to believe what they want to, to hear what they need or choose to, often not listening to all that is said, and interpreting that which fits them the best.

It is hard work to replace holes and to choose to rebuild from tragedy, from hurt, from sorrow or circumstance.

To find creative ways to listen, to ask questions, to be bold and say the truth and sit with the tears and fears while the stain glass ragged glass is made into something of beauty.

It takes courage to take a stand and to be respectful even in times of disagreement or question with grace yet agree to disagree yet leave judgments at the door.

It is a work as we all are in process.

We all look through the eyes of our own experiences, processed through brains that then send messages of interpretation and it happens so very quickly.

Before speaking we need to breath, to stop and think hard before the next step and the next view. Maybe blinking our eyes and looking again, touching our ears and giving great thanks that we can hear at all, being sure to listen as hard as we are wanting to speak.

Only then can we say we are giving our all to our views and shared differences while respecting those of others.

Families, gatherings are now being planned all over the lands; perfect Hallmark moments being thought of in our brains... yet we forget so quickly reality vs. views and wished for moments of time.

Give more than you hope to get, with open views and words of strength, laughter that rings the bells of joy, while knowing that everyone has a story... I hope you do not get lost in a chapter that you have moved past oh so long ago.

One view at a time, one breath, one step

holding all dear to you without judgment, with all the beauty that is the season.

Cracked, broken, fragile yet beauty remains, and stain glass shines when that light hits it, yet the true beauty can be seen by all with different views even on the darkest of nights in shared experiences if they only take a breath and join together as one.

 

Walk in beauty,

DRSES