A Collector of Sorrows
Pondering Grief
I’m a collector of sorrows.
Each year, more come my way.
Each one is unique-
like broken seashells,
softened by the waves and sand,
hinting at its former intact beauty.
They sit contained in a glass
on my desk-
a constant presence
and backdrop to my life.
-CMS
I’ve been pondering grief today.
I don’t think any of us are immune to it.
I think the longer we live, the more sorrows we carry.
There’s no getting around it.
They change our lives permanently, giving us insight into the pain of others and the depth of our loves, hopes, and dreams.
I would never have willingly walked through the griefs I’ve borne, and yet I wouldn’t trade the wisdom and softness for life and humanity for anything.
Some still haunt me, play on repeat in my mind, and make me wonder when the pain will lessen.
The reality is… maybe they won’t.
Maybe they remain to keep me tapped into my humanity— my spirit, my soul, and my deepest desires.
When we grieve that deeply, it means we have loved something equally intense.
My sorrows are many— over what was, what wasn’t, what will never be, and what can never be.
And yet … I’m making a way forward.
With grief as my guide, I follow the yearnings of my heart.
Joy, love, and being are so much sweeter now in light of the sorrows produced by such losses.
So, I give space for the sorrows and honor their presence in my life while pursuing the joys equally mine to inherit.
Writing Prompt:
I write to heal.
Early in my healing journey, my journal accompanied me everywhere I went so I could hear and process my thoughts as I put pen to paper. Often, those writings came through various writing prompts. To pay it forward, I offer you a writing prompt with each post so you can join me in discovering your inner hero through writing.
If writing to heal resonates with you, consider using the following prompt to direct your writing.
Here is your prompt:
I am a collector of….
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