So often we think about being compassionate to others, but how often do we think about having compassion for ourselves?
Today I am going to practice being compassionate with myself...and others!

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I have this job I love.
I have a job where I rattle the cage.
Rattle the cage and to stir something deep within.
Something painful, something joyful, something meaningful! Something comes up.
I rattle a cage, shake the tree limb, shine a light, raise a thought, make a statement, present an observation, and witness.
I have a job I love.
A job that requires a great deal of courage. Some days I am afraid to say what I see. Some days I am afraid that you...

The stories we tell ourselves and others are the stories that keep us trapped in the story we are telling.
We become the story, and everyone who comes into our lives become a part of our story.
Every event that occurs, we recant it so it fits into our story of who we are and the way in which the world and everyone in it adapts to our own belief of the story we tell of ourselves.
Do you like the story you are telling yourself and others? Is it the story you wish to continue...

Loving you began with loving myself.
I had to look at me, and love me, every part of me, the good the bad, the ugly. I had to realize for myself that there wasn't anything about me that was no longer loveable, worthy of love...
in order for me to look at you and love you.
every part of you, the good, the bad and the ugly as well.
I had to stop judging parts of me, so I would stop seeing those in you.
I had to stop beating myself up, so I could stop beating...