Just being honest......

If you find yourself saying 

 "....but I'm just being honest" 

chances are you've just been unkind.  

Honesty doesn't heal. 

Empathy does.

-Dan Waldschmidt

We do this. 

Speak unkind words. Unkindly.

and justify it with....

"Just being honest."

SUPER DUPER.  Thanks. 

{insert sarcasm}

Here is what we need to remember....

"....just being "honest" - sometimes isn't all that honest at all.

Our "honesty" certainly isn't an excuse to be viciously outspoken about another person's situation.

What we say for the sake of "honesty" defines our character. 

Our "honesty" is OUR feelings.

Our "honesty" is OUR perspective

Our "honesty" is OUR viewpoint. 

It's ours and OURS alone.

Our honesty is not an expression of TRUTH, it is an expression of OPINION.

It's as simple as this.

When we feel the need to tell people our "honest" thoughts about a situation....

We can't then simply shut down and walk away thinking we did some valiant justice to the world, by having the nerve to speak up. 

All we've done is expressed our thoughts based on ONLY OUR experiences in life. 

The person we are being "honest" with should not have to accept our honesty - as their truth - simply because we "honestly" expressed it.

Telling someone our "honest" thoughts on THEIR decisions, with expectation of them then accepting our truth as theirs.

That isn't honesty at all, is it? 

It's more ignorance and self-loathing in my humble opinion.  

Expecting some ridiculous change in another persons life should occur because of our "honest" expression is so dang selfish.
It's not our journey - it is theirs. 

Talking about someone in their absence abrasively and following it up with - "Just being honest...." - doesn't justify us.  

Don't get me wrong.  I love an "honest" conversation, with "honest" opinions....

WHEN THE INTENT IS TO HELP. TO HEAL. TO CONNECT. TO UNDERSTAND.

{not simply "be right"}

Empathy combined with honesty.  

That is where it's at. 

Such a beautiful concept, yes?

People with empathy listen, understand, love.

They embrace each person's story.

They are not offended when someones truth doesn't match theirs. 

They accept things for what they are.  They see all sides of things.

They are concerned with healing.  That's it and that's all.   

With my divorce, my new relationship and the life changing decisions I am making - 

I now have a new understanding of what "honesty" can do when applied poorly, and selfishly.

Relationships break. 

Rumors spread.

Friendships are lost.
The most heartbreaking thing about this ----ALL issues arise because people use their so- called honesty to decide to choose sides, make assumptions, close minds, close hearts, stop listening, stop understanding - start assuming and veer off in a direction of animosity and disdain toward people who, quite simply,  make different choices than they would.
Un-necessary.
We have NEVER walked in the shoes of another human being on this planet.  No one deserves to be mistreated because of my truth, your truth,  anyone's truth.

Honesty should be used to open our hearts to one another. 

Listen to one another's truth.

Embrace, Empathize, and Love.

My son Luke recently opened a difficult "honest" conversation with me.

It was the most beautiful thing in the whole wide world. 

We now have a new awareness and understanding of not only the situation at hand but also of one another.

He's 22. 

He has mastered honest, loving, expression.

It is time full grown adults get their shit together. 

Honestly.

Numb.

when your heart goes numb.

when you feel nothing. zero.

just existence.

it's annoying. 

i will say that. 

'cause i am a feeler. 

i am addicted to it in a sense.

i am led by my heart.

instincts.

feelings.

something has happened.

i think my heart is broken. 

it's not working normally. 

numb.

i want the rush of joy that makes my heart flip flop.

the comfort of love that warms my soul

the feeling of anticipation that inspires hope. 

i want the sorrow that invokes a prolonged session of tears.

i want the anger that spurs me to make changes.

i want to feel. something. anything.

maybe. 

numb is the way this universe protects us. 

knowing when we have endured far too much....

it puts our soul under general anesthesia 

so we DO NOT feel. 

for once.

maybe. 

or perhaps we have felt so much for so long.

we simply kinda have run out of feelings.

temporarily.

perhaps we have felt what OTHERS feel so intensely 

we now are taking a moment to lose the empath in us....

and surround our hearts with armor. 

so we don't lose it completely.

be numb. 

protect your sanity. let it be ok. for now.

but don't accept it as normal.

being numb....requires a diligent return to life.

we can't let this demon stick around long.

life is meant to be felt. 

deeply. passionately. wildly.

to be moved in one direction or another through our feelings. 

our instincts. the nudging of our hearts. 

listen to music till your heart stirs.

watch a favorite movie. 

meet with a friend.

love up someone you love.

do what it takes. 

life requires you.

it is....but it isn't.

 on one level everything is good.

 beautiful. stellar. amazing.

you hold true. 

you maintain.

you do what you can.

you just make it all lovely. like always.

stellar.

it's good, right?

but....

like an off beat country song.....

that everyone loves.

cause they just GET IT.

it's not all that OK.

it's off. 

beautifully off.

perfection is an illusion.

it does not exist. 

ever.

but you can MAKE it work.

cause you LOVE the people you want it to work for. 

it's a no matter what situation...

however...

at SOME point.

your heart.

gives up.

is pushed.

doesen't fit.

so....

you go. let go.

it's a must situation.

everyone can BEG you to stay. 

it works out for them.

perfectly.

you staying.

in the same place.

over. and over and over. 

it's a pretty comfortable scenario.

FOR EVERYONE.

....else.

so....

here is the simple truth.

YOU 

love me?

ok.

then.

i matter.

my efforts.

my faults.

my love.

my stupid sixth sense.

my in-ability to let go

easily. 

every single day.

life is so LIFE.

and i embrace it.

feel it.

don't expect anything different of me ever.

till you come up with something stupidly funny.

then i got ya. 

xoxo,

ang.

LOVE is what matters.

so. 

23 years ago.

this boy came into my life.

i knew at that VERY moment. 

i would not ever in a million years be the same.

insta-love.

my heart.

expanded. 

in an instant. 

life became.....well.....LIFE.

don't you love it when that happens?

 altering existence. 

becoming a mama.

but not the only way....to feel altered in this beautiful life.

good gracious - there are SO MANY ways to expand this heart of ours.

i think...

we wake up every morning.

the same - yet different.

because every little experience, conversation, interaction

changes us.

slightly.

or significantly.

sometimes poor decisions of our past.
come sneaking up.

right there, we face the reality of decisions we have made made...that hurt.

we are human...and love, life, and crazy...happen.

but at the same time.

it all comes around and there is a time and a place you have to stop hiding.

time to admit your insecurities, bad decisions, poor judgement 

...and just say you are sorry.

 life altered.

heart expanding.

freedom.

what was. is now simply a story.

an experience. 

never repeated.

life. 

don't ever say "never"

NEVER happens far more often then forever.

however.....
after all is said and done.

LOVE

is what matters.

7 months later.....

someday i will be consistent. 

but for now. 

i am not.

for now i am all over the place.

why?
because consistency is boring to me. 

always has been...most likely always will be.

{my poor kids} 

one minute they have bins full of matched socks, and underwear and clean clothes.

...the next minute. 

nada.

NOTHING.
but.....

they deal.

why? 

because they ALL know.

i am consistent with ONE THING.

LOVE.

it never leaves.... ever.
not for a second,

not when it comes to them.

i might flounder in my personal life.

i may not be the best wife, or friend, or business owner.

but....

my babies. 

pure consistency.

with LIFE.

i am ALL over the place. 

regressing. then progressing.

figuring things out.
but.....
with LOVE.
nope.
consistent.

i guess when it all comes down to it.
i hope  my un-conditional love is evident.

 no strings.
no expectations.
just here.
always.
no. matter. what..

life. 

good gracious. 

i had no clue.

 THIS life....

i love.

SO GRATEFUL.
good God. i am blessed.

at the end of the day.

LOVE.

love.

LoVe.

it forgives, it forgets, it accepts, it understands.
it holds zero expectations.
it lifts up.

judgement is a joke.

ACCEPTANCE is everything.
taking what is good and bad and understanding.
SO VERY BEAUTIFUL.
because not ONE SOUL has taken our journey.
not one.

everything in me wants to be perfect.

nothing in me is.

but i LOVE.

deep. and i hope in the end.

that means EVERYTHING.

THAT girl.

....once upon a time.

THAT girl.

had it all figured out.

that girl.

woke up every day with clear direction.

sure thoughts.

and everything simply “fell into place”.

'cause that girl MADE it seem that way. 

regardless.

she was the "sure" thing.

the constant. 

the strength.

that girl.

right? 

you have known her.
been her?

sure strength.

sure love.

sure beauty.

sure. 

of anything. and everything. 

100%.

convinced.

100%.

{of her illusion}

SHE pushed through what needed pushing through.

with a smile.

...and the sweetness of the sweetest. 

that girl always did what needed to be done.

no. matter. what.

{self compromising by the minute.}

... all was well and right in her world.

that girl knew exactly what it took.

and she did it. 

what else is she to do? 

she is THAT girl, after all.

THAT. girl.

is a mama.

a friend.

a wife. 

a employee/employer.

a woman.

everything.

to everyone.

AND ALL THE SAME 

she is simply a girl.

just keepin' on.

keepin' on.

not to be underestimated.

{not for a second}

THAT girl.

{perfection at its least – and best – go figure.}

so what if...

suddenly.

SHE

isn't exactly THAT girl anymore?

what if.

perfection. 

fades to imperfection.

and clear direction becomes swayed.

what if.

everything that used to fall gracefully into place.

simply crashes?

HARD.

what if.

everything changes?

SHE changes. 

a little here. a little there.

and VOILA.

suddenly - who's THAT GIRL!?!?!

:)

SHE is.

she IS.

THAT girl.

still.

but different. 

better.

love her if you want to.

or don't.

she isn't all that concerned. 

'cause now...she has 

flaws and imperfections.

that make her real.

wants and needs.

that are evident and straight forward.

passion. 

that doesn't apologize.

 crazy and lack of crazy.

simply because she knows her boundaries.

you should explore her mind and her heart. 

'cause you can. 

'cause she MIGHT just let you.

 she is not sure about one damn thing.

and won't pretend to be.

 honor her strength,  adore her weakness.

whatever.

she cares ABOUT you not WHAT you think. 

SHE simply IS.

she has NOTHING figured out with certainty.

but EVERYTHING resides in hope.

and she prefers it that way..... 

she is beautifully confused.

gorgeous chaos.

reckless.

living. 

loving.

IN it.

TO FEEL IT.

it's a THAT girl thing.

get it. or don't. 

been there  - or haven’t.

admit it or not.

THIS girl is good either way.

sometimes....we love. without loving.

life has this way of throwing us off.
a little bit.
ya know?

suddenly everything that made sense...
makes no sense.

our souls are so strong.
yet maybe a little lost.
they are SOULS for goodness sake.
NOTHING is going to break them, yet EVERYTHING is going to challenge them.
that is the purpose, right.

they are persevere-ant.
but at the same time.
still searching.
always -
for what exactly it is....
that makes them stir.

it takes a lifetime to understand.

i think.
we are MEANT to feel.
in this moment.
in order to get to where we are going.

so every time someone or something....
whispers.
pay attention.
everything matters.
on some level or another.

soak it in - or let it go.
your choice.