Living Fully

"Is it possible to live so defensively that you never get to live at all?"  Rachel Naomi Remen

We have all been hurt by others in life, and sometimes our reaction to that is to pull in, develop a protective shell around ourselves and our hearts, to prevent anyone from hurting us again.  But, this does not work.  If we pull in and protect ourselves too much, we put ourselves in a cage.  Part of life is that people will betray us, people will do mean things, people will disappoint us.  But God is never disappointed in us.  If we choose to remember that Divine Love -- by whatever name you wish to call it -- loves and approves of us unabashedly, then it is easier to let the slights of others roll off and never stick.  Life is meant to be lived.  As the popular saying goes, "This is not a dress rehearsal.  This is your life.  Live it."