Just Things...

If a hurricane came and took all you have...would you still be able to recognize yourself.
Is it just things you own or are they more.
Do you possess your things or do your things possess you?

A hurricane is nothing to make light of nor is any other form of natural disaster. I know. I lost a business due to a fire in the middle of a blizzard. There was no way for me to prepare for what happened. I knew the blizzard was coming. I purposely stayed at the pet store because I had baby animals there that needed my care, whether there was bad weather coming or not. The fire was another story. This I could not have prepared for. I lost over 300 animals that night due to drowning and exposure to the cold. When the firefighters put the flames out the water filled up my tanks and the animals died. Not to mention all of my product was totally destroyed. On top of this I lost perception of who I was. Because I spent so much time in the store taking care of the animals, they became my "children". My own identity "was" the pet store. It took over my life. I lost myself the night of the fire.

It took me several years to heal from that tragedy. Today I look back and thank the "children" for coming into my life. The memories, all of them...good and horrific at the end, have enabled me to grow in ways I never would have without them.

Yes I reopened the store. I realize now that I needed to prove to myself that I could do it again after so much death that night.

Today I am ready to move on from the pet store. The children have taught me as much as they can. They have taught me to see myself for who I am...not what I do. I am not my job...nor am I my possessions.

We don't have to go through a disaster in order to see our true essence. We are able to see "who we are" when we look at our reflections in the mirror. Who do you see staring back at you? Do you know this person? Is it someone you are happy with? Are there things about this person that you would like to change? Can you see the "Light" shining from their soul? Or is this person, stripped of all their outer trimmings, a stranger to you?

There have been many days that I look in the mirror and the woman looking back at me is someone I don't know. There are days when she is stronger than I feel...more outgoing than I am comfortable with...more daring than I care to be. On those days I strive to grow into that woman. We can all see the reflection of who we truly are when we look in the mirror. If you take a few seconds and look into your own eyes you will be amazed at what you see. All of your talents, your "gifts", you have to share with the world will be staring back at you. You will see things in you that you didn't know were there.

In this world where materialism has hit an all time peak it is so important to look deep inside at who you truly are. To see yourself so clearly. To strip away all of those trimmings before they are removed due to disaster. If one is to look deep enough and see who they truly are they will find Peace deep within. If their world is devastated due to a natural disaster they will not walk away empty handed. Yes they will have lost all of their possessions...but they will not have lost themselves. They will have the strength that is needed to rebuild their outer lives because their inner lives are still a stable foundation. This is the secret to life.

I wish you inner sight that shows you the "wonder of you".
May your foundation be a beacon of Light for the rest of the humanity.

Many Hugs
Dawn