Often being a feeling person, especially a highly-sensitive one, is looked down on as weak. Pathetic. The opposite of strong and powerful. So instead, we suppress. We fight feeling. I've been overwhelmed. I had to take a few days away from this space. Being highly sensitive, I take on everything around me. The burdens of others. The pain of others. I found myself beginning to unravel at the seams. I was shutting down in my real life - motherhood, being a wife. Dishes were piled and I was forgetting everything that needed to be done at home. I went for a good three mile run today on my healing foot. I broke it in December, and my running stopped altogether while it healed. I've been slowly getting back to it and my steps are easy, light. Steady. Sometimes I have to know when I need to step away, be light footed and allow for healing. To be careful with my heart, so I don't collapse in on myself. Yet as I stood and took this photo, out of breath and my foot aching, I realized that I would rather be someone who stops and sees a sign like this, who pauses and takes it in. I would always rather feel than not. Feeling isn't weak. Suppressing what you feel doesn't make you strong. It does not make you better than others who allow themselves to feel. I am thankful to be a person who feels - I think us feeling sorts ARE strong and powerful. The hurt we feel for others is compassion. The pain we take on from their wounds inspires us to act. The empathy we feel helps us to begin to understand. Feeling sparks both inward AND outward change. I am thankful I feel as much as I do. I am thankful that my body gives me little nudges to take steps away when needed, and little nudges when I'm ready to jump back in. I am thankful today that so many around me are feeling too - we are strong, we are powerful, we are capable. Yet don't beat yourself up if you need time to reset. To step away. To rest. We are going to need our strength, and being attuned to all the things we are feeling is so crucial. Create. Be with your kids. Love on your partner. Meditate. Go for a run, a hike. Just be. It's okay. When you're ready, jump right back in. Art by @nathanielrussell.

birchandpineさん(@birchandpine)が投稿した動画 - 2017/02/01 01:30:27