We will struggle against life so long as we are merged with (unconscious of) the belief that the painful, vulnerable, shadowy place within is bad, wrong, a mistake. So long as we see shame as an enemy, instead of a frightened child. Our shame is the strategy of a child, to feel safe. It served us then. It does not serve us now. The child must be helped.

We help the child by loving the child—as he is.

We love the child by listening and witnessing the child—holding space.

We hold space for the child by feeling him in the body — present and loving — protecting this presence from becoming carried away by thoughts, judgments, meaning-making, planning, and so on.

This is mindfulness.

We remain present and loving by breathing in and out consciously — enjoying the breath, sharing the breath with this child.

Breathing to him.

With our attention, communicating:

I see you

I am with you

I love you.

I know the ache that lives inside.

I do not know how to make it go away.

I do know how to listen

to breathe

and to celebrate,

to know the beauty while also

holding the pain.

That voice says

something awful.

And I say,

I’m here.

You can feel it,

breathing,

and I can feel it,

breathing,

And we can rest here,

and just be,

together.

everything is a work in progress