Life is in the contrasts

Let’s talk about contrast. In art, it is the contrast of light and dark that really makes a painting pop. In the ostrich below, the light face wouldn’t have any depth of character if it were sitting on top of a light background. The contrast of light on dark makes the ostrich come alive. The same is true for you.

 Over the course of a few days, I had the opportunity to be around people who make me come alive. We had deep conversations, laughed so much we felt like we a ran a marathon, and saw ourselves more clearly and lovingly through the eyes of each other. We talked about our struggles, too, and offered compassionate and spacious support for one another. At the end of the weekend, one thing was abundantly clear to me. Through those struggles we have all BECOME. We have become more humble. More appreciative. More grateful. More loving. And more ourselves. The dark nights of our souls may not have been what we wanted, but the contrast that the darkness provided was exactly what we needed to not only look for the light, but to run toward it and embrace it with deep reverence and joy. 

 We always get what we need, even if in the moment it doesn’t seem fair. But trust me when I say that the contrast is VITAL to our growth. After an amazing weekend of unconditional love, I had a contrasting experience. Did this feel good? Not really. But it showed me how truly blessed I am to have so much healthy love in my life that I am grateful for the contrast, and am reminded to lean even more into the healthy relationships that I DO have. And that, my friends, is exactly what I want. In experiencing the contrast, I can create a life that is more authentic and aligned with my soul.