be excessively gentle with yourself.

John O’Donohue, Irish poet, priest and philosopher, offered prescriptive wisdom for the tumult of these times. In the Blessing for The One Who Is Exhausted, in his beautiful book of blessings; To Bless the Space Between Us, he writes, “weariness invades your spirit. Gravity begins falling inside you, dragging down every bone, … something within you has closed down; and you cannot push yourself back to life…” Then it is time to, “take refuge in your senses, open up to all the small miracles you rushed through.” And, ‘Learn to linger around someone of ease who feels they have all the time in the world.” Remember, “you have traveled too fast over false ground, now your soul has come to take you back.” So, “imitate the habit of twilight, taking time to open the well of color that fostered the brightness of day. Draw alongside the silence of stone until its calmness can claim you.”

And this sweet line; “Be excessively gentle with yourself.” Excessively.

This made me pause. What would excessive gentleness toward myself be like? More than sufficient tenderness. Ridiculously over done kindness. So much self sweetness, for a possible toothache! Ok, silliness, but what if I asked myself this question each day; how can I be excessively tender with myself today?

May this new year bring gentle tenderness in all its forms to you, may your resolutions be those of loving kindness first to yourself, then gently, tenderly outward in all conditions and relations.

The whole poem of John’s is below. Enjoy!