This is an opportunity to let go of the flotsam and jetsam of the world by closing your eyes and taking a deep breath in.
Now let it go.
Inhale and exhale.
Welcome to a hit of hope.
I can be a bit clueless at times.
When I was young,
I thought dried worms on a sidewalk would come back to life when it rained again.
When I was told I had to have chemo,
I was sure chemo was nuclear.
I had no idea that it came from a yew tree.
I didn't understand how a tree could wreak so much havoc even as it saved my life.
I just moved into a brand new house that I bought a couple of days ago.
I shouldn't say brand new house.
The house is 104 years old.
And I couldn't understand why there were all these amazing old skeleton keys.
Some had red strings,
Others had yellow.
And all of these keys sat atop the different doorways.
It took me far longer than I care to admit to figure out that each key would unlock that door.
It took me so long because the doors were wide open.
I could easily move from here to there,
In and out.
There were no reasons that I needed a key.
I don't know about you,
But sometimes life can feel a lot like closed doors.
A no,
And another no,
And yet another painful slamming door in your face.
No.
Alternatively,
Even in the best of times,
It can be easy to close ourselves in and lock the door.
Because life hurts.
Why open up and expose your tender self?
It's better to have a solid barrier,
A definitive hiding away of what's inside.
That way you stay protected.
Safe.
Opening up can be scary as hell.
But oh,
The freedom of an open door.
The delight of peeking in to see what might be inside.
It's not only the open door to consider.
After doing some research,
I discovered all kinds of interesting things about skeleton keys.
They are considered a master key.
One website said that a skeleton key is one that has been reduced to its essential parts.
Another said it's a key in which the inside bit has been hollowed out so that the key can open many different locks.
Think about that.
A key that has been reduced to its essential parts.
Life can do that to you.
It can grind you down.
And you can be defeated by that.
And that's totally understandable.
You can also claim that which is most you and step out into the world as fiercely as most essentially you and kick some ass.
Not only that,
But a skeleton key is one in which the inside bit has been hollowed out so that the key can open many different locks.
When you become so you,
When you become so authentically yourself,
You step into the world as this kind of skeleton key.
Shown out to your most important pieces,
You can open up all kinds of different doors in yourself and in others.
You might be thinking that's a load of donkey doo doo,
But I'm telling you it's true.
People long to see others who are so fully themselves and they respond to that.
And if they don't,
Well,
Walk on and find the next open door to explore or be someone else's key that helps them unlock and open.
Because life is short.
And there's a reason skeletons keys are considered strong symbols in literature.
They are often associated with good luck.
And the treasure is almost always behind a locked door.
You are the key.
Open shit up and step inside with delight and wonder.
Namaste.
