Living with an Open Heart

One of the blessings of being human is our ability to love. We all have the opportunity to open our heart in relationship to family, friends, lovers, and animal companions. When I was a teenager an adult friend of mine taught me that even under the safest appearing circumstances we always risk pain when we let ourselves love… people leave our lives for many reasons and often it is unexpected, a move, a death, an argument, a change of priorities… Each time we experience this loss of love we have a choice to either let our heart be opened more by the experience or to protect ourselves by closing it down a little more. Choosing the open heart often requires living through a period of grief and leaves us feeling temporarily out of control but it also guarantees that we will have a life where we can experience the full spectrum of sweetness and joy. Closing the heart may appear to be easier and safer but it limits our ability to have the full mystery that life offers. Opening your heart to love is truly living.