The windows of my soul

I throw wide open to the sun

-John Greenleaf Whittier

Each month I've been choosing a mantra, or idea, to embrace for one month. I've gathered quite a collection of gems (my favorite isn't really Internet appropriate). The idea for February was "Open Up".  I tend to have these ideas of guarding my heart, my ideas, my self.  I've really been working on creating space for people to enter the grounds of the property and enter into my life.  To open up so that I can have deeper relationships with friends, family, and great people I have kept on the perimeter of the grounds for quite awhile.

If your everyday practice is open to all your emotions, to all the people you meet, to all the situations you encounter, without closing down, trusting that you can do that - then that will take you are far as you can go.  And then you'll understand all the teachings that anyone has ever taught

-Pema Chodron

There have certainly been some potholes in my adventure. Sometimes, I'm the type of person who has very black and white views--there is no middle. So, when I decide to "open up", I throw away the doors and windows and scream, "COME ON IN!". Now, this is not the best approach with most people. Often, I need to just unlock the door and wait quietly inside. I'll keep working on it and see what it brings.

We need to give each other the space to grow, to be ourselves, to exercise our diversity. We need to give each other space so that we may both give and receive such beautiful things as ideas, openness, dignity, joy, healing, and inclusion. 

-Max de Pree