TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT: FEEL EVERYTHING

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TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT: FEEL EVERYTHING

The whole thing could be the hard part, or the whole thing 
could be the joy. This is a decision we make.

Listen, life isn’t without her hardships. 
You don’t have to love the bags under your eyes, 
the reasons why they are there. 
You don’t have to name the ugly parts beautiful. 
You will cling to life with trembling fingers, splitting 
nails and skin.
You will bleed.
You will stare down the end of a long day and see only night.  

Listen, happiness is as much a decision as it is a gift:
     you must choose to open it.
And suppose you do it with enthusiasm and wonder?
And suppose you say thank you like the prayer that it is?

This body is yearning because there is so much to hope for, thank you.
These hands are shaking because there so much to hold, thank you.
This heart is aching because there is so much to feel.

L.E. Bowman