Thank you. Thank you for being you and sharing this journey with me.
As the holiday season approaches, I am reminded how blessed I am to have such a wonderful personal and professional life. I feel such gratitude to all the people who have chosen to walk along side me in this journey. I am truly honored on a daily basis that I am a witness to the rawness and resiliency of our shared humanity, both in my office and out in the community. People ask me all the time how am I, as a therapist, able to listen to peoples stories each day without getting overwhelmed. My response: Gratitude and awe.
I am in awe of the human spirit and the resiliency that we possess. I am grateful for our shared humanity. My favorite quote is by Tibetan Nun, Pema Chodron, “ True compassion does not come from wanting to help out those less fortunate than ourselves, but from recognizing our kinship with all beings.” We are in this journey together. I may have different roles with each of you, but the one common thing we share is that we are strong, flawed, resilient, and yes, magnificent. Life throws us curveballs or mountains to climb, yet with the support of each other, we can overcome our obstacles and thrive.
Who I am as a therapist is who I am as a human. I struggle. I am just as flawed and imperfect. Yet, it is through these challenges that I find my strength. My own personal and spiritual growth is the most important aspect of my life. I live it and breathe it daily. I believe I can only assist my clients if I have gone there myself, therefore, I strive for greater depth and understanding of myself both personally and professionally. While each of our journeys may twist and turn in different ways, we are the same. Another wise statement by Pema Chodron that I live by, “Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.” We are in this together.
When the stress and challenging emotions arise during this holiday season, remember that we are in this together. Take a moment to ground yourself and breathe. Recognize our shared struggles and joys. You are not as alone as you may feel. Hold gratitude in your heart for all that you have created and for those who have chosen to walk along side you.
I picked up this card at Trader Joes the other day, because it reminded me of you. “Be your own kind of beautiful.” That is how I see you. Beautiful. Resilient. Magnificent.
Each and every day strive to be your own kind of beautiful. This is what life is all about. We are each amazing in our own way. Thank you for being you and sharing this journey with me. I support you! Have a wonderful holiday season!
With love,
Jennifer
Photo 1 by Cecile Vedemil on Unsplash