We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
– Maya Angelou
I just found this poem by Dr. Maya Angelou and needed to share it with you. Although it includes the word “love” in it, I don´t interpret it as anything romantic. Rather, today I choose to embrace this as the most powerful love of all: self love.
It is only in accepting and loving your Self, your authentic Self, that you find the courage to take those leaps of faith that keep popping up each time you turn an unexpected corner. If I had been given the opportunity to move to Portugal at a moment´s notice three years ago, would I have taken the chance? No. The fear, uncertainty and self-doubt that resided within me was too powerful to overcome and walk away from. Until I learned how to.
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Yes, it is love that liberates and gives our souls wings. We´ve always heard that pilots have to earn their wings, but the truth is, we all do. We all have to, some sooner than later.
Sometimes those wings sprout behind us, and we realise that we are meant to be angels for others. Others are granted wings like birds, to endure the long flights, to go the distance. Then there are those who are handed wings and take a lifetime to figure out how the hell to use them. Whatever form your wings may take, understand your purpose in life.
So I raise my glass tonight to all the angels in my life who have helped me find my wings. I soar among the orange blossoms and look to the shores from whence the great explorers set out to sea and discovered the New World.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
FrogDiva Thoughts 