Burning Bridges

As a counselor I have hope in almost everything and everyone. It is also who I am as a person. Some would argue I have too much hope and see life with rose colored glasses despite all that I have personally experienced and all that I have heard about the grief of others, "la vie en rose." (Listen to this song if you ever have a chance.) All I know is that I have always had the presence of the "Divine" in my life. Even in my loneliest, I have truly never been or felt alone. However, having said this, I have learned a lot in the last few years about having hope in everything and everyone. 

Lesson 1:

Everything and everyone has the potential of change but not everything and everyone will reach that potential in a timeline that we are able to witness.

Lesson 2:

When we choose to leave certain people and things in the time and space they belong, we are not forgetting them and their time with us. We are operating with the virtue of justice by letting people occupy their space and time and allowing ourselves to move on and occupy our own space and time. 

Lesson 3:

We need energy and fuel to power our way through our new and possibly different journey. We cannot exist simultaneously in two or more dimensions of time without severe exhaustion and lack of motivation. We have to choose and sadly, sometimes our fuel and guidance comes from the light provided by the bridges we burn to our past. 

Lesson 4:

While you may choose to return to an older period of time, you have to remember that you return as a changed person and therefore will possibly, and in all likelihood, have different reactions and behaviors. Don't be surprised if you realize something or someone from your past isn't as interesting or is more interesting than you thought originally. 

Lesson 5:

There is a lesson in everything. Find it, especially when you have the least amount of understanding of what's going on. It will always shed light on a situation. 

Lesson 6:

Hope applies to everyone. It's an equal opportunity concept. If you have hope in everything and everyone else, that means there is also hope for you and your situation. You are not the exception to the rule. 

Lesson 7: 

There are connections between every act, person, thing, and situation. Find what the connections are. They are the yellow brick road that will lead you to the treasure at the end of the rainbow. 

Once again, I'm not saying anything you can't think of or haven't possibly thought of yourself. I just happen to be trained to look for these things as part of my job and therefore in my own life. You can become this aware as well. You might already be. 

And this kind of awareness, once again, is one of the perks of being a counselor.