Soul Expanding

The quote today is from Mary Pipher from her book Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing as We Age.

For many of us, a combination of suffering and happiness is what defines this life stage and fuels our growth -- we can describe ourselves as living in "both/and" terms. Suffering gives us empathy, while happiness gives us hope and energy. The contradiction of this life stage makes it a portal for expanding our soul.  p.20

The first thing I need to say is that I've gained plenty of empathy! And I have moments where happiness has been elusive and suffering took over --probably more times than I'd ever remember. But I'm always called back to everything is somehow exactly as it should be and it serves me. I definitely feel I'm in a different life stage. As long as I was working, I could hold it off. I could pretend I wasn't there.

But I've been thrust into this life and yes, I have found happiness. The health issues have been limiting, and for months and months I've wanted to get beyond them,

In God's time, not mine.

In many ways, things have been better than expected. Despite shaky moments, I am on solid ground.

The way I feel inside

 Suffering gives sight

I'm in a different life

My soul expanding