I've been thinking alot lately about the heart, and how we take strides to protect our hearts without even knowing it.

What is it about our lives, the day to day paths we take, the experiences we have, that make us put walls up around our hearts? And in doing so, are we really protecting ourselves from hurt, or are we actually just hurting ourselves more by trying to protect our hearts from the mere possiblity of getting hurt again?

I've discovered that in order for us to grow beyond whatever hurt we have experienced in the past, we need to leave that hurt where it belongs, in the past, and move forward. By doing so, we can be free from a fear that can truly hold us back from living the kind of life we're meant to live.

When we hide in fear, those walls of protection all around us in the disguide of defensiveness, humour, selfishness, or just checking out, I believe we are unable to grow in who we are meant to be and serve as we are meant to serve in this world. I also believe that little by little, those walls smother us and shrink us down to the point that we no longer have the ability to discern ourselves. We may desire change, but have no way of actually making change because we become so small and scared. We strong, confident, beautiful beings in essence are reduced to a ball curled up on the floor, getting kicked around by life that is happening all around us. Can we truly desire our lives to be lived out in such a way? I can't think so. So then, how do we free ourselves from it?

I really feel we are, all around us, surrounded by loving friendship and support. We are not meant to live this life alone. This is why we have family, why we build friendships, why we long for community and relationship. What we need to remember though, is what those relationships need to be at times. Accountable, loving, open and honest and daring to speak out to eachother in a way where we can be challenged and desire to change and grow - together. Like reaching your hand down to that curled up ball and helping them on their feet, so must we challenge eachother to look at ourselves truly in the mirror and see our potential, our hope and our future. The past is there as a reminder only to serve us in learning. It's not meant to be held on to, at times even ferociously. When we let the past go and move boldly one step at a time forward, we can be truly free and we become alive once again, wiser and more hopeful.

I've mused enough for one day, but I'd love to know your thoughts on this, and if you feel like you are a person living and trapped by the past and your fears, or someone who has been there, done that, and took those bold strides to step out, step up and step ahead.

Be in this moment, live it the best you can be and love on someone else today with an open heart. That ability will change the relationships around you and be a light where at times there is no light. And we all grow in light, don't we...