Women Holding Things

On social media I have followed @MessyNessy in Paris for quite awhile. Several months ago she showed pictures of women holding things and ever since then I have thought about what women hold. Women hold: a child, a job, emotions, the home, the family, food prep, bills, structure of the home and sometimes it is hard to let go.

 Here is my mother holding me.

 I grew up and she had to let me be me by letting me fly and find my own wings.

Hands are unbearably beautiful.

They hold on to things.

They let things go.

~Mary Reufle 

https://mairakalman.com/womenholdingthingsbook 

 Could you see how gently my mother's hand held me on her knee?

And my daughter holding her son (my grandson).

 I see as he gets older there will be a time to also let him fly. Yes, I had to do it for my own little ones.

And here is me holding my teacup, a time now for meditation and self care. Being surrounded in nature touches my soul. And I hold each day in my heart and cherish those moments of both holding on to life's joys and sorrows and then releasing them to fly away.

 

 

A personal story. When I was in junior high school my gym teacher taught the girl's to hold there breathe and suck in their tummies to make them flatter. I realized all these years later that sometimes holding ones breathe is not really good for me or anyone else. I am learning to release my breathe and in that hold joy right in my belly, even if that means I don't have the flattest tummy in the world. Why do we teach girls to hold their feelings in, not breathe, and not release what is good into the world? I hope this makes sense, it's something I am still learning.

 

Let's hold on to what is good and release the stale air, laugh and find joy each day in the little things. What are you holding on to today? Does it bring you JOY? 

 

Sending love,

Marilyn