sometimes it lasts in love, but sometimes...

there is no talking to a broken heart.

and that's what you are when you have one-

not a person, not right now.

you Are...a broken heart.

we feel as though we have failed. and words, those are failing too. but we hear the sad songs, and we feel them pull every last tear from our eyes, and from our hearts.

on a sunny day when you've already made it through the hard parts, with just enough time to think about all of the things you have been too busy to think about for months, you realize that you're still missing a defining piece of you- the part that someone else took. while this Is something that will shape you, i've also found that no matter how strong we get, and no matter how many battles we lose and grow from...we will always be able to feel the once-new and alive spot inside of us, for each love that we've lost. we will get new jobs, we will meet other people. we will even date other people. but in the long list of names that each of us have inserted into the stories of our youth (some for a few months, some for a couple of years), there will be one or two that are especially hard to replace with someone else's.

what's harder, is when those lovers replace Your name..and you don't 'wish them the best.' what you wish, is that you were experiencing 'the best' along side of them. and sometimes, it's 'for the best.' we all have to understand that 'the best' is not around the corner. sometimes, it's not even a year away.

at sunset, i imagine the light coming through the trees on your road. when i notice my tail lights in the rear-view mirror, i imagine them against the siding of your house as i back into the driveway. and on a rainy morning, i think of a lime green curtain that masks the gray outside.

and so much in the time of heartbreak is just that-

a happy mask over the hopeless faces of the people who are begging, and rushing, and struggling to put themselves back together; a blanket over the heads of the broken hearts who can't get out of bed.

sometimes, we quickly gain the tools to start our lives again. but the willingness to start again does not mean that we get to skip the time; it does not mean that we can skip the grief.

all that we can hope for is that someday, love, as big as this one that broke us so deeply, comes along again-

even bigger this time, and able to take more away from us--

but won't.

and if you have a minute, why don't we go?

"when you drink the water, remember the spring."-Chinese proverb.

as you go through each and every day, do you process the people that you encounter? the sky above your head? do you take the time to witness each miracle?

well, as far as each and every day is concerned, the answer is probably 'no'. we are all guilty of being taken by the stress of our lives: financial concerns, turmoil in our relationships, the obsession with becoming who we are expected to be. while this processed and robotic habit is the norm, sometimes in life we each experience an overwhelming glimpse of light where every beautiful moment is noticed. in a fleeting summer, a deep pink sunset can sum up the day, and also, your life.

we take such great notice in those things that sadden and delay us, but why? we are still standing today. we still smile, and laugh, and continue on with our lives and responsibilities...and the reason why? daily miracles.

our cousins have babies, and someone makes us laugh until we can't breathe.

our siblings get promoted.

people become friends that we 'need', instead of just friends that we 'have'.

our best friends get engaged, and our loved ones return home from overseas.

after a really long day, your cell phone dies...and you get to be where you are.

we fall in love.

promises are kept, the power goes out, we see by candlelight. we make new friends.

the sun rises over the ocean, a stranger says hello.

someone lets you know in one way or another, "you matter."

you feel the love of a family, you spend enough time outside to get a sunburn.

you clink glasses with an old friend, someone kisses your cheek.

you get to do it all over again tomorrow.

if in a day you've smiled, if in a day you've felt love, luck, or beauty-

you've been given your miracle.