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Learn to Love Yourself ~ Metta Blast 7

February 04, 2008

susan_preston_loveyourself3.jpg

Love is Letting Go of Fear ~ Canon 30d


You're hurting,
uncertain
alone again


Still searching
for someone
but so afraid


And you'll try for love
And you'll cry for love
'til you learn to love yourself
You'll lie for love
and you'll die for love
'til you learn to love yourself


The answer
is sleeping
inside your heart
True love that you long for
That's where it starts


And you'll try for love
And you'll cry for love
'til you learn to love yourself
You'll lie for love
and you'll die for love
'til you learn to love yourself


Breathe it out and breathe it in
Trust the light that shines within
let it burn til you learn to love yourself

Breathe it out and breathe it in
Trust the light that shines within
let it burn til you learn to love yourself


Love will lead you home
Deep within your heart
Deep inside you know
How beautiful you are
Love will lead you home
Feel it in your heart
Deep inside you know
How beautiful you are
Love will lead you home
Let love lead you home


Breathe it out and breathe it in
Trust the light that shines within
let it burn til you learn to love yourself


~ Olivia Newton John, from the album, Grace and Gratitude


The happy image above is a self-portrait I shot in October while visiting "The Knob" on Cape Cod with Bagpipe Bob. I had just left a mind-boggling and bizarre situation behind me... one that made me question the very ground I'd been walking on... a situation that could have easily led me to beat myself up for being misled... for being so incredibly trusting... and stupid.

But you know what? The stormiest of situations, if walked into and reflected upon with a sincere desire to learn and become a wiser person, always bring us the most beauty. Don't take my word for it ~ next time you really fall flat on your face, or someone kicks you square in the ass, try it out. With something like this, I wouldn't lie to you.

The answer
is sleeping
inside your heart.
True love that you long for
That's where it starts

Rob and I trudged out to a piece of land that sits high atop the ocean – a patch of earth whose rocky armor is completely exposed to the elements. With the wind whipping against us at 30-40 mph, the salt air was cold and felt a little dangerous, but it was incredibly invigorating. There was no way on god's green earth I would fall asleep and miss my life with the wind bullying me about and Bob's bagpipes wailing a battle cry just beside me. Difficult people and circumstances can be instruments. They WAKE US UP so we won't get too comfortable, fall asleep and forget to live the life we're supposed to live.

So... I set the camera on self-timer, ran over to the stone wall and leaned smack dab into the mighty wind. "See if you can take me!" I laughed, "Bring it on, LIFE! Is that all you got? I can handle it!"

Breathe it out and breathe it in
Trust the light that shines within
let it burn til you learn to love yourself

I've been saving this image for the right moment. It's funny how the gift of someone else's music and lyrics can help you take what you already know, pushing you into a place where you can find the right words to communicate it.

Love will lead you home. Learn to love yourself.


PS ~
I just watched the Deepak Chopra DVD entitled The 7 Spiritual Laws of Success, and what struck me the deepest was the music by Olivia Newton John, which was written during her treatment and recovery from breast cancer. Olivia's album, Grace & Gratitude is nothing short of a gift, and you can download it on iTunes.

Posted by vincent at February 4, 2008 05:58 PM

Comments

You'll never know how much I needed this today Susan. Bless you, bless you, bless you...

Posted by: jayne at February 5, 2008 06:33 AM

It's kind of like the [i]sound of paper[/i]. Someone says something or does something that gives you just the right nudge. It's like a message from the beyond. And this experience is so phenominal. Moments of lucidity, waking up from the trance that proliferates our lives. And we realize that life is perfect, just the way it is. :-)

Posted by: Bob at February 5, 2008 12:34 PM

You are echoing what I am reading about, meditating about and thinking about. I love you. Thank you. You are such a blessing.

Posted by: janet at February 6, 2008 01:31 PM

what a great, hope-filled post.

Posted by: la vie en rose at February 6, 2008 02:35 PM

I think taht this si something we all need to hear. I know I do.

Posted by: yolanda at February 6, 2008 05:43 PM