On meeting grief, I lost some of my True North. In desperate attempts to replace love lost I have sacrificed pieces of my soul. Oh, when you think you are strong in stability you think that could never happen to you. But, it’s the thing that turns your stomach inside out when it does. So if you are reading this and can relate, don’t beat yourself up.

If you aren’t done with the shadows allow them to dance themselves out. Try and keep as safe as possible because there will be moments you don’t recognize the face in the mirror or the hardness of your heart. Just keep breathing. The person you are, the love you have to give is the iron element that has always been your foundation.

If you don’t want to hold on for dear life, let go. Let blood fill your clenched, white knuckles. Or hold them tight a little longer. Listen to where you need to be and if you get there and it breaks your heart, let it break until you push back up to the surface for air. No one can pull you back in and swim to shore for you.

But those who never stopped loving you will be sitting on the sand with a sun-kissed, warm towel. And the seagulls flying high out over the ocean will squawk their familiar song. The sand dunes will rise at your back and the tall beach grasses will sway to the currents of wind blowing through your hair.

Settle in the place of refuge. Sit and gather the salt-stained tatters of your heart. Allow the tears to fall from your eyes and wash away the sandy grit that has kept them barely open. Look across the horizon where the vast ocean of darkness transforms and creates new life.

There are no expectations or rules or emergencies for you to know why you are here or when you will be ready to move. Embrace the warmth of the sunlight and feel its arms wrap your soul in its power.

It was always you and you are all it will ever be.