In the shadows of the night

A reflection about embracing our feelings and exploring loving our fearful parts

In the shadows of the night, I awaken.

Something weighing on my soul

You are not listening, it says. It’s time to talk.

I suppress it. “Go back to sleep!”

Closing my eyes tight, it gets louder

Stirring in my chest, tightening, racing heart

I finally ask, “What?!”

We are afraid, it says

What are you afraid of, I ask?

That we will fail, it meekly answers back

I finally stop and see it

I close my eyes again, this time with tenderness

Hand to my heart I say, “It will be okay. I see you. I know you are scared.”

I feel into it…the tightness, contracted sensations

I send love—real love, not the kind of get-away-from-me love,

but the open-arm-hug kind

I feel it softening

It knows we will be okay

I know we will be okay

We fall back asleep, gently embracing each other

-January 19, 2025