Towards the end of my meditations,
I often like to remind listeners,
People that have connected with my work,
That they are loved,
And I was reflecting today on what that means and on the truth of the statement.
Because actually,
It can,
At times,
For some of us more than others,
Be challenging to know that you are loved.
For some of us,
Feelings of unworthiness and shame,
We know the areas in which we are perceived failures,
We know the areas that we're not dealing with,
We know the areas that we feel embarrassed and ashamed about,
And we don't always feel worthy of love.
I know,
Deep inside me,
That I am loved and that you are loved,
Even when we don't love ourselves.
Pausing now to hear the words,
You are loved,
Know that you are loved,
And see how those land for you.
Considering now love as an intentional act or set of actions,
Thinking about love as a verb,
A doing word,
And thinking about who or what loves you,
And by that I don't mean romantic love,
Although that's wonderful,
I mean that in some way,
They've shown you care,
They have been present,
They have sent you a kind message or offered a kind word.
Could be anybody,
Could be any living thing.
Who wants you well,
Happy?
Who wants you to live with ease?
Who knows that you are fallible?
They don't need to know the details,
But they know that life is life,
And that it's not easy being human.
Who is holding your hand as you walk home?
Who checks in on you?
Who remembers what you've said to them?
Who greets you warmly?
You are loved,
Even when you don't love yourself,
Even if it feels uncomfortable,
Even if you have no idea why.
So let's take a moment now to bring to mind someone you care for,
Someone you know isn't perfect,
But someone you wish also knows that they're loved and cared for and cherished deeply.
Bring that person,
Bring that living thing to life in your mind's eye,
Really see them,
Perhaps as though they're sitting next to you now,
And send them love,
Send them well-wishes.
Say to them,
Even in your mind,
Your heart,
Or out loud,
If that's comfortable,
May you be well,
May you be happy,
May you live with ease,
And really mean it.
They're all having an earthly experience just like you,
With its ups and downs,
The craziness,
The anguish,
The loss,
The pain,
The suffering,
The joy,
The contentment,
The laughter.
They're experiencing all of it in their own way,
And yet you love them.
Know that you are loved in exactly the same way,
Know that you are loved.
Even when you don't love yourself,
Even when you feel like you've let yourself down,
Even when you feel like you've let others down,
Perhaps you have,
But you're still loved.
Taking a moment to sit with that,
And thank you so much for practicing with me today.
