dead stars and memories

when darkness falls each evening, as long as there is no cloud cover, and  clean, clear air above us, we can see the beautiful light of the moon and the stars.

the clearer the air, the more beautiful the sight.

for those of us who live in cities, having the chance to see the night sky in the country air is almost magical

one of the things we learn at school is that some of the lights we see are from stars that no longer exist. they died aeons ago. but still we see the beautiful light arriving each evening.

and of course, at some point, the light from each of those dead stars will complete it's journey to us, and the light will go out.

the universe is so full of stars, that we will barely notice the final moment.....

memories are like that. we carry them around and for as long as they are alive and full of energy, the emit a light that shines into our everyday life.

it can be fun, remembering the happy things - like winning a prize, your child's first smile, the aroma of your mothers baking, your success at something for which you have great passion.

these are memories that have lovely little gifts in them that uplift and comfort you.

but sometimes that light brings up feelings of great sadness, or loss, and pain.

we do not always like to accept that these memories have just as many gifts for us as the happy ones.

but whether we like it or not, it still remains true.

if you can find the time and energy, the support and the willingness to unpack the sad memories, then you will find the gifts it brought into your life, and like the light from a dead star, the light from the sad memory will one day fade and disappear.

and all that will be left will be a memory. not a sad one. not a happy one. just the knowing that once upon a time, there was an event that saddened you.

and that, in some way, it enriched you


.........