Sometimes, it feels like no one is there for you. Like you’re an island. Floating alone, surrounded by water without another soul in sight. Sometimes, all you want is to be protected. Instead of protecting yourself, knowing that there’s someone beside you to comfort and care for you on the darkest of days.

It feels like there have been a few key questions and themes around rest, satisfaction and a sense of purpose that have been on my mind over the day few weeks. I’ve given myself more rest than I have in a long time, but it doesn’t seem to alleviate the tiredness I’ve been experiencing. Somehow, the more rest I give myself – the more my mind and body crave it. I’d been running on a state of rest deprivation without thinking twice about it.

No one is obliged to share their vulnerability with you. They’re sharing because they trust you. They’re sharing because they feel safe and supported by your presence. They’re sharing because they (often) have pain and fear attached to their vulnerabilities. They’re sharing because it lessens the weight of their vulnerabilities.

It’s easy to slip into autopilot and take the people, places and things in your life for granted. The daily routine where you’re going through the motions. You stop noticing how the cold air feels against your skin on your morning run. You overlook the strangers that you pass by every day – going through their own routine. You take those phone calls for granted. You take those messages for granted. You take those you loved for granted.