What label/story/box/belief clipped your wings this year? How can you flip the script in 2012? What’s your new story?
The great loves of our lives don’t spend their existence categorized and separated into neat little boxes. Instead they march in together, in one cacophonous roar, all the strings and harmonies of the symphony playing at once.
You cannot unbraid the strand. If something in your heart is aching, it will inevitably spread its sickness to the adjoining chambers. For a long time I knew this, and yet I let the story of heartsickness loom large, too difficult and complicated to unravel.
This year I tugged the end of the string, expecting the knot to tighten and become more tangled. Instead I unleashed a flock of balloons skyward.
This #Reverb11 prompt is from Fabeku Fatunmise. I found it via @meganecollier. The blog badge is via Robin, aka @Zumbalicious_, thanks lady!
Wow. As always, last sentence sent shivers. I have to wonder what it is you did that "tugged on the end of the string." Maybe it was you facing your fear and reality head on?
Posted by: Abigail | December 14, 2011 at 09:23 AM
@Abigail--That's exactly what it was! Reality isn't always my favorite thing, but it's necessary. :)
Posted by: Noel | December 14, 2011 at 10:01 AM
Oh, I love this! Yes, the letting go can be the hardest part, but look what happened! yay!
Posted by: kelly | December 14, 2011 at 10:48 AM
This post is lovely. I can sense the unbraiding of the heart at it heals from love lost to be open to new love.
Posted by: Dragonfly | December 16, 2011 at 07:37 AM
love this so much, noel. the imagery!!! sometimes we make things harder on ourselves than they need be until we just let it go. this is exquisitely written!
Posted by: Tracy | December 17, 2011 at 02:42 AM
I think that image is just beautiful...and the perfect way to describe letting go. There are moments of silence as you watch them drift away, and the wonder of how far they will go. So lovely.
Posted by: Brandee | December 17, 2011 at 05:51 AM
Have you ever noticed that is true of hair? I've been a pony tail and braids girl. A bobby pin girl through and through. It is only in truly happy moments, moments of fearless unravelling, moments of security in the truth, that I'll let my hair down. I hadn't thought about 'story' that way until reading your beautiful words...
Posted by: Roxanne | December 18, 2011 at 12:43 PM
i wasn't sure about this post when i began reading, but now i'm smiling. maybe even chortling gleefully.
Posted by: wholly jeanne | December 18, 2011 at 06:36 PM
@Kelly--Yes. Why are we so afraid to let go? It's like flinching in anticipation of something terrible ... and the terrible never comes.
@Dragonfly--Yes! and not just lost love, other stuff too. :)
@Tracy--I think I'm the queen of that. :)
@Brandee--Exactly! Watching those things leave is the best part, the reward in itself.
@Roxanne--This is so true!! I have long hair, which is mostly pinned back. I would chop it all off if it wasn't for the occasional joy of wearing it completely down.
@Wholly Jeanne--Thanks!! I actually had the exact same experience when I was writing it. i wasn't sure where I was heading ... :)
Posted by: Noel | December 19, 2011 at 01:57 PM
You and your writing and your heart are beautiful.
Posted by: Shannon W. | December 20, 2011 at 03:49 PM
Balloons in flight are one of my personal symbols. They do something for me that I never even attempt to describe to other people. To find them here, now, is a source of profound joy for me.
Posted by: Kimsamsin | February 09, 2012 at 12:08 PM