Hang me out on the line to dry

Today I feel like I was wrung through a wringer last night. And I have a strong visual image to go with that, having watched grandma's hand get caught in the old wringer washer.

At least she was able to stop it before it went any further. I also have a sort of cartoon image in my mind of a whole body going through and coming out flat and wrinkled, like the big bed sheets we fed through the wringer.

It is very hard to change old patterns of behavior, to overcome karmic tendencies. To not keep doing things the same old ways while expecting different outcomes.

It is hard to do what feels like the "right" thing while knowing that to someone for whom you care deeply it feels like you are being heedless of their needs and their discomfort.

Morning always comes. And fences get mended. And connections get repaired. And the sheet that got pressed flat by the wringer billows out on the clothes line in the sunshine.

Our hearts are strong. Our foundations are deep. We can rebuild. We can avoid the fault lines, sister the joists, erect a tent even in the midst of a storm.
We can learn and grow. We can keep on keeping on. We can make new choices. Communicate in different ways.

We can keep our loving arms open wide. We can look into each other's eyes and see our most true selves. We can take turns carrying each other when we are tired. We can smile and laugh - really.

I'm gonna smile and laugh and love today.

Thanks for listening.

sarah