Thirteen years I've been walking through these gates. Metaphors for opening the heart into relationship. 

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty of these turbulent times, my husband of 20 years was diagnosed with Parkinson's. My anxiety for his shifting abilities, and for the 13-year homestead we are about to lose when our friends' sell the farm we have been living on together, sometimes translates into wrenching gut attacks 2 or 3 times a night.  My husband is building us a tiny house but we don't know where we will park it. I have not felt this much anxiety, well, it is an old friend. 

As a writer, this is one of the ways I take care of myself, offer my heart the soothing attention it needs, while practicing being here with what is. I offer what I am learning to you so that I may inspire and encourage your own heartful tending.

There were over 36 gates when we first moved to the farm. I was in the midst of writing my thesis for my doctorate in Language and Literacy Education. 

Ahava Shira