There’s a particular contentment that comes in our falling in love again, dreaming again, hoping again. In our moments of rediscovered innocence, and in our informed and yet defiant idealism.

Whatever suffering we endure, there’s always the chance we might shut down to protect ourselves and avoid further pain (which is natural).

Any vulnerability we show to the people, institutions, or whatever else caused us trauma… is tough. It takes courage. But as we reconstruct life on the other side of grief, loss, and tremendous shifts in perspective, the greatest refuge to be found is in the new things we love.

It’s almost a kind of resurrection, where you’re armed with all you’ve experienced and learned, but open to something new and beautiful.