Auld Lang Syne — I have no idea what that means. Neither did Sally in, “When Harry Met Sally.”
All I have learned, during all my “woe is I” of the last months, is that, love can come with pain. But it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t love; rather you should love more fully and more deeply because the pain of loss or impairment of (or separation from) a loved one knows no bounds, even if you love a little. So, go ahead, LOVE a lot. Take that crazy plunge without the armor of indifference. Without any armor at all, even.
And out of this learning process comes another very important truth: I am lucky to love and be loved. Period. Heartache be damned.
Even as I reel from sadness to responsibility to exhaustion to anxiety about paying for SOS’s education, I know, in my heart, that all of this is evidence of a fortunate and full life. So far. I must continue to be worthy of it.
I wish for everyone, on the eve of 2013, a year of love (without pain), good fortune and humility. The road ahead is unsure and life takes many twists.
But, today — maybe only for today — I am grateful for the pain that proves the love.