The Word "SAFE"

As I’m writing this book, I keep coming back to one word.

SAFE.

I had no idea how much I equated safety with making sure everyone else was okay.

If everyone else was safe, then I was safe.

And If safety meant peace, I was always bracing for impact.

So, I stayed one step ahead.

Scanning for things I could fix.

Solving problems before they existed.

Entertaining irrational thoughts and fears.

Depleting myself in the process.

What an exhausting job I gave myself.

But the word keeps showing up in my writing because I’m beginning to understand what kind of safety I need ... now.

I’m teaching myself to feel safe without earning it first.

Safe to say what I mean.

Safe to be soft without feeling weak.

Safe to let someone be upset without losing myself in their feelings.

Safe to walk away from things that drain my energy.

I'll never stop taking care of the people I love.

But I’m learning I don’t have to abandon myself to do it.

Maybe that’s what this chapter of life is about:

Learning that safety can exist inside us.

What does SAFE mean to you?