On playing small

This week reminds us of the simple pleasures in life.

Of blessings big and small. Wonders that you might even take for granted. A smile here. A laugh there. Watching the sunset on the dock in a rocking chair with your loved ones. Morning coffee in the garden listening to the birds sing.

(and yes, we DO wonder how they can sing and never stop…)

A yearning for that quiet place inside, to just sit in silence and exist in the reservoir of pure joy, deep soul satisfaction, and happiness.

You know the kind that can only be lit from the inside? Yep, that kind. The soul food variety. Found a quote which describes it perfectly -

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we’re liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

– Marianne Williamson, in A Return to Love (quoted by Nelson Mandela in his 1994 inaugural speech)

May your light shine brilliantly as you go about your day and marvel in the blessings to be found this week.