A Hand Full

If you would ask me what my favorite part of my body is, I would tell you my hands are by far one of my most beloved features. I don't have beautiful hands. No elegant long fingers gliding over classical music instruments or covered in exquisite evening gloves. As a matter of fact, my nail beds are so small that acrylic nails don't fit them, if I ever chose to wear them. The reason I like my hands so much is because of everything they have accomplished, and still do.

First and foremost I use my hands to write. Such a thing of pleasure to me as my fingertips flit over the keyboard nimbly. Secondly, I use my hands in my newly acquired profession to such a lovely degree that I connect with people and assist them in releasing things they should have let go a long time ago. Last, but by no means least, in my other long established profession, these hands of mine have helped save lives. And have helped lives enter into this world. These hands of mine have held the hands of the dying, if I knew it at the time or not, but these hands of mine have touched people, when words had no meaning. Providing the "being there" that cannot be expressed in any other way many times in life. These hands also had to learn when to hold tighter without causing harm and when to gently let go. A process each of us learn in varying forms in our lives.

These hands of mine have reached out plenty of times, being received not with welcome, but with rejection. These were lessons on allowing people to have their space and not overcoming them with physical or any other force. But there have been many more times where my hands have been reached for. Not just by my children when they were young and sought their guidance and safety. Not just by a lover's yearning for intimacy . No, these hands of mine have been reached for many times by people seeking the connection and validation of our sameness. Authenticating our existence and sharing a moment together.

That's why these hands of mine are my favorite body part. May I always keep them empty enough to receive what is needed yet full enough to give what is required to make our journey lighter for each other.