It’s Sunday. May 8th, 2016. Mother’s Day. Can that help us figure out where we are metaphorically, emotionally, mentally, philosophically?

My mom has been gone for six long years, yet she remains with me as she formed me, taught me, loved me, and is now part of me.

I read a quote this morning: “Contact your soul and your purpose and ask the defining question: “Am I being my biggest heart self, allowing my soul to guide my actions? Or am I living a limited, noisy, constantly busy life that consigns my soul to a corner of the room, where it waits my awakening?” Therese Tappouni

As the logically driven human being that I thought I was, it has taken heartbreak and heart-work for me to access my heart self, and then more time to be comfortable enough to act from that space. It’s not a question of my ability to love, I love deeply, it is more about my perception of vulnerability. Since I am naturally emotional and judged that to be a bad quality, I spent decades hiding that part of myself. I thought others would view my reactions as weak, uncontrolled, child-like. I’m sure my suppression exacerbated the problem.

I wanted to look strong, mostly because I didn’t feel strong.

What I learned over time is that I am strong.

I’ve said this before, and I believe it still – vulnerability (not weakness or victim-hood) requires bravery, belief in one’s power of resilience, and acute awareness. It is not easy and often kind. I am immediately aware of vulnerability because it touches me in the chest and solar plexus, and my brain (for a moment) freezes.

Think about your mothers today. What did they give you, take away, leave as a legacy? And what can you – as a mother, father, sibling, human – offer others that can make a difference?

Then my friends, make those differences, because they offer multiple and massive benefits toward making our world a better place.  

Happy Mother’s Day.