Eat, Pray, Love

I started reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert soon after I left my ex-husband. Even though I have gradually gotten through each chapter, it has been astounding to me how much I can connect with the things that the author says and does as she takes a journey of self-discovery after her marriage ended.

The other night, I read this passage and it just made so much sense to me that I had to share it with you:

"People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that's holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you'll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then they leave. And thank God for it."

I was saying this exact thing so many times after I left, just to rationalize to other people the reason I needed to move on, but I could never say it so eloquently until I read this part of the book. We are on this journey for a reason, ladies, and every step of it is so important. We must remember that the pain is merely a stepping stone to a greater understanding of ourselves.

-Brooke

The Universe

One thing that was fun and meaningful to me (and helped a bit everyday) was sign up with http://www.tut.com.  Every day I received uplifting and poignant messages from "The Universe".  They were perfect and helped me realize that every day was a miracle and yeah, maybe today I was feeling sad or crappy, but no matter what, each day was meaningful.

Here's an example of a couple of the quotes I received:

"There are only miracles, Paige, and to one degree or another they all soothe, pamper, and enrich.  However, to avoid blowing too many minds at once, some are disguised as unpleasant surprises, botched circumstances, and twisted acquaintances that can rarely be seen for who or what they truly are until the pendulum has fully swung.

Yes, don't I think of everything?

Duck -
            The Universe

OR

my ULTIMATE favorite:

Don't be afraid to go where you've never gone and do what you've never done, Paige, because both are necessary to have what you've never had and be who you've never been.

Be the ball,
            The Universe

The Clearing

I've been invited to share my own personal experience with my transformation in the last year.  One of the (many) things that has helped me grow into a more beautiful and strong person (both inside and out) has been having an open mind and letting go of what does not serve me.

For those that may be going through their own "growth" period or for those that have seen the light at the end of the tunnel, I think you will enjoy this poem. 

Paige



The Clearing

I am clearing a space here,
where the trees stand back
I am making a circle so open
the moon will fall in love
and stroke these grasses with her silver
I am setting stones in four directions
stones that have called my name
from mountain tops and riverbeds, canyons and mesas
Here I will stand with my hands empty
mind empty, under the moon
And if something takes my life,
if a sudden wind sweeps through me,
changing everything
I will not resist
I am ready for whatever comes
But I think it will be something small,
an animal padding out from the shadows on delicate paws
or a word spoken so softly I hear it inside
There is a way to live
that makes each star a cell
Come stand with me here
it is cold I know,
and silent, nothing is happening
The next breath, and the next,
is the new life.

-Morgan Farley

Every Step... Every Day...

Life has a way of throwing you off balance. Things may not always seem like they make sense, but in the end, I believe everything happens for a reason.

2010 has been a year of changes and shifting for me. I've grown more than I ever thought I could and learned more about myself than I ever knew before. I've gained and lost confidence. I've cried unendless amounts of tears. But here we are, in the last weeks of 2010, and I'm able to say that I'm the proudest of myself I've ever been. Above is a picture of me with the new guitar I bought myself to say "you deserve the things that make you happy".

I've met some amazing women over the last few years and I thought that this might be the perfect way to share our stories, and heal from each others experiences of taking each day, one step at a time, facing our fears and our sadness, and coming out on the other side, stronger, wiser and the most beautiful women we can possibly be.

-Brooke