Years ago, just after a very dark period in my life, I wrote myself a poem. A few weeks later I published that poem on my blog because I thought it might help someone else too. A lot of my readers said it helped and made them feel more hopeful and less alone in times of hardship.
Almost one and a half year ago I decided to try and get an article published on the online magazine Tiny Buddha to reach new people that might otherwise not find me. Again, the poem was part of the article that was later named A first aid kit for when life falls a part. Again, so many people responded and contacted me and thanked me for writing it. People in different kinds of circumstances but with the same kind of longing for relief and community and hope.
Last week Tiny Buddha decided to share that post on their Facebook page without me knowing and yet again, it seems to have resonated. I just noticed an increase of incoming thank-you-notes in my inbox and finally figured out where it came from. The article was shared more than 9 000 times and commented on by more than 500 people. That’s a ripple, made by me sharing something I originally wrote because I needed to comfort myself.
You never know what ripples you might have in the world. You never know what move might be the one that changes everything for someone else. Be true to who you are. Share your light with the world. And trust that your love and authenticity is enough. Always enough.
And as for the poem, I didn’t even think it was good enough for publishing in the first place, but maybe it’s the simplicity of it that resonated with so many. Does it resonate with you?
To me, if I ever end up there again, and to anyone else, who’s ever been there, or are right now, in the black hole:
It will get better. There is a meaning to what you’re going through.
You will feel like living again.
If you can’t do anything else but breathe, do just that; you don’t have to do anything else.
Don’t fight it. Let it be. It is as it should be and it’s okay. Just be. Don’t judge. Let go.
Look at what’s beautiful. Listen to what gives you peace. Eat what tastes good. Do what feels nice. Even if it feels pointless right now, it’s good for your soul.
Ask for help.
Let other people help you. Let other people take care of you.
Cry. Scream. Wail. Laugh. Sleep. Close your eyes. Do whatever you need to do. Let it out. And embrace.
It will get better. I promise.
With all my love,
Helena