A Celebrar
Balgue, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua
They say,
“You can’t fill from an empty cup”
But does anyone know how to fill theirs?
Does anyone know how to fill themselves with something that is genuinely nourishing to the soul & spirit?
Our lights have dimmed.
Our spirits have sunk.
Our souls have become corroded.
All because we are empty inside.
We either know not or resist the ancient knowledge that…
It is in tending to the world the swirls within us that we can actually seek that which we wish to do. It is through lighting the torch with undying embers and passing it through our inner chambers that we illuminate our own brilliance in a way that burns from deep within & emanates in totality without.
It is in radiating the loveliness of our soul that we are actually able to ignite change in the world & unconditionally inspire and even love those around us.
All lights have potent attraction powers. To radiate oneself is to light up the world and, more so, to inspire others to do the same. It is from this sovereign place that the act of giving is more an act of overflow. When we love ourselves so much, have so much grace & compassion for our own humanness, it uncontrollably & unconditionally spills unto others.
What we’re left with is moving through the world from a place of true unadulterated love.
“as within, so without”
we cannot hope to give to others that which we cannot give ourselves.
When we think of helping the world, of elevating man & womankind, when we think of being of service, we must first know, believe, & understand
It all starts within.
How do you not only love yourself but CELEBRATE yourself? A long while ago, I used to base my value as a person upon how much I gave to others. We can go many years like that, many go their whole lives, but it comes at a cost. I gave most of my resources — time, finances, & energy to others in desperate hope to prove myself valuable to them.
Someone who is valuable cannot be forgotten or left behind. While there is an inherent reciprocity woven into the fabric of relationships, our value & what we give must always come from a natural place & space of abundant love. We go about giving in a way that starves ourselves and, long as we think we can withstand the hunger we will succumb.
Whether we grow mad from malnourishment or resentful from the one-sidedness of it all, we will burnout, wipeout, and pass out.
If we let it go so far.
While we’ve shifted gears amidst this knowing, there still remains an unknowing in which direction to go. We’ve become so estranged to ourselves that we don’t know what it is that truly will fill that hole within us that led us to search outwardly to fill it. The water & bubbles of a bath drain with it the attempt of indulgence & self-care. The wallet empties with our happiness that we thought some material thing could be.
We must be patient & wise to know that which brings us true nourishment. It is that which sustains us for long periods of times, that which pats down foundation upon the hole that once laid at our feet. To fill oneself means to see the glory that is within our existence. To see the journey as the journey and everything it took for us to make it through. To recognize the faith we sustained, the anxiety we calmed, the strength we mustered, & the courage we roared. All the while holding onto that which has true value for us.
We may glean wisdom from others who give clues as to what may fill us, but it really is a task allotted solely to ourselves.
It was 6 years ago that I vowed to give myself the world. One sacred promise I’ve kept is a yearly birthday trip to honor that which makes my heart sing. It always leads me off the beaten path toward adventure, somewhere where I can enjoy & be proud of the thousands of hours spent mastering Spanish. I give my rigid routine a rest and throw my hair & caution to the wind. I go where my soul prickles with curiosity, a place steeped in nature so raw it sings its origins.
This year, I celebrate life with the land of fire & water: Nicaragua.
They say you can’t fill from an empty cup. Do you know how to fill yours?
