I Thought You Said This Would Work

by Ann Garvin

Happiness is a place between too little and too much. —Finnish proverb

I realized that putting your thoughts and emotions into simple sentences was easier than building a life where those sentences would never have to be uttered.

“Safety and the idea that you can keep anyone safe is an illusion. But, loving someone is the ultimate safekeeping.”

No matter what happens to us in life, we can always come home to the people who care for us. They are our safe harbor.

being a mom takes the squeee out of the mish. If you know what I mean.”

People always said their heart was where they felt all emotions. But the heart was a survival organ and didn’t have time for every quiver and quake. As strong and fearful, as complicated and sad as I felt in that moment, I realized that life was a cluster of love, fear, loss, and acceptance scattered between the heartbeats. That was what true survival was, keeping the heart beating while continuing to feel everything.