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"When life gets hard," said Bear, "look to the willow tree." "Why?" asked Rabbit. "No matter how harsh the storm, it has learned it's better to bend than to break." said Bear. ©Tara Shannon *** There have been a few times when I thought I might break. I thought for sure I was going to. When my mom passed, it felt like the very last of what I could manage. It was as if the floor was falling away from beneath me and I was going to be swallowed whole. Part of me hoped for that. A place where time could stand still. Even just for a little while so I could catch my breath. But. Life doesn't work that way. In the face of great adversity it's essential to give yourself time and permission to grieve, collect your thoughts, process and live in that moment, no matter how uncomfortable it may feel. Running from it doesn't make it better... it simply buys a bit of time before it returns. Ready to be dealt with. There's no time limit on grief. No limit on figuring out who you are and where you're going. The world can wait. In fact, it will bend with you as you sit in your silence and slowly make your way forward. There are still days when I wonder how it is that I have arrived where I am. My steps forward after my experiences with loss, grief and cancer were at many points messy to say the least. Yet, here I am. There's a willow tree on the site of a place my family used to gather. I visit it at least once a year. It sits at the very edge of a lake known for rough storms. It has survived all of them over its many years. Bending in the storm... but never breaking. ©Tara Shannon, 2020 The Willow Tree |
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“It’s the perfect combination every time..” said Rabbit. “What’s that?” asked Bear. “You, me and a cup of tea.” said Rabbit. And the two sat quietly, sipping their tea, enjoying each other’s company. It may have only been for a moment or two but.... it was magic. |
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"The world can be very loud." said Rabbit.
"Don't worry." said Bear. "You'll learn how to filter out the noise."
"And then it will be quiet?" asked Rabbit.
"Then you'll be able to hear what matters." said Bear.
©Tara Shannon |
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"When I see someone being bullied, what should I do?" asked Rabbit. "Stand next to them." said Bear. "Lend them your voice and your support." "Won't we both be bullied?" asked Rabbit. "Maybe." replied Bear. "But others will join you and the more that do the less power the bully will have." "How do you know?" asked Rabbit. "Because it only takes one voice on the side of what is right to inspire others to do the same." said Bear. ©Tara Shannon, 2020 |
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"I'm afraid." said Rabbit. "What are you afraid of?" asked Bear. "I don't know." replied Rabbit. "I just am." "Then I will sit with you until you're not afraid anymore." said Bear. "We'll face it together." |
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"Do you know what's happening over there?" asked Bear. "It has nothing to do with me." said Rabbit. "Oh, but it does." said Bear. "What happens over there will be felt everywhere." ©Tara Shannon, 2020 “What’s empathy?” asked Rabbit. “It’s the ability to meet someone — anyone — at a point in their journey, with understanding.” said Bear... “All the while keeping in mind that we can never really know what it’s like to be someone else.”  "I want to save the world?" said Rabbit. "The weight of the world is heavy." said Bear. "Start smaller. Start with yourself." "I don't need to be saved." said Rabbit. "I'm okay." "Ahh, but that's just it. You're not okay. None of us are." said Bear. "Not even you?" asked Rabbit. "No." said Bear. "I have hard days too. And that's okay." "It is? Why?" asked Rabbit. "Because when we admit our struggles we can begin to heal. And when we're better, that's when we can begin helping others." said Bear. ©Tara Shannon   “I may no longer be at the beginning of my story, but neither am I at the end.” said Bear. “I’m somewhere in the middle… broken but on the mend.” ©Tara Shannon |
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