Rainy Days and Mondays…

My heartfelt gratitude to all of you who stopped by my blog to send hugs yesterday.  I truly appreciated all of the kindness and love that you showered over me.  Like the rain which has been falling, your loving gestures wrapped me in a blanket of love and gratitude for our connections.  Near and far, you helped me immensely by caring ~ and isn’t that what life is all about?  Sharing, caring and loving connections?

I think sometimes we feel alone and get into our heads that we have to forge ahead, doing it ourselves.  When we get overwhelmed with life’s experiences, we huddle in our aloneness and the story that we have to shoulder it all by ourselves.  Perhaps we view asking for help as weakness, when in fact, I believe, it shows strength.  There is strength in vulnerability.  There is strength in kindness.  There is strength in knowing that you need a hug (virtual or otherwise) now and again.

Sometimes people misunderstand a loving heart and see it as a weakness.  They view caring as being vulnerable and not being strong.  But in fact, I believe, that in being a loving heart and caring, connecting and reaching out to others with our whole selves is a strength for it is not always easy to be the one who prefers peace, love and understanding in their life.

Some find it’s easier to rant, rave and bulldoze to get your own way instead of taking the time to be with life situations with a loving heart.  Loving hearts may get broken easier, but the payoff is priceless and precious to know you love from your heart.  Superficial love is easier to manage because you can walk away.  Real love is doing the work to stay connected even when it’s hard.  I’m not saying that there aren’t times which warrant walking away because I believe there are.  Nor do I blame those that do, for it is every individual’s right to choose their life path.  Sometimes we need to walk away to clear our heads and see from the observer’s point of view and then we can make the right decision for ourselves.

Bottom line, I am thankful for all of the hugs sent my way and as promised, I send double the loving hugs back to you and out into the world.  I hope you understand that I just needed a hug, a connection, a bit of kindness and your response was so generously loving that I actually felt your love-filled umbrella on a rainy day (hence the photo today).  You made a difference.  ♥

Snuggled down on another dreary day, my strength increases again thanks to you.  My smile widens, my heart feels fuller and peace fills in the empty spaces.  It’s just that there are times when we all simply need a hug…

My heartfelt hugs to all of you, always.

Shine On!

xo