What we are hiding?

You're a wonder,
how bright you shine,
flickered candle in a short lifetime,
secret dreamer that never shows,
if no one sees you then nobody knows,
and all these words you were meant to say,
held in silence day after day,
words of kindness that our poor hearts crave,
please don't keep them hidden away.
josh groban

No matter how many times I tell the people that I love, how much I love them, do they know deeply and purely what they mean to me? Do I tell them the countless times during each day that I know my life is better, sweeter, brighter, just because they are in it with me? Do they know my dreams?

What about the friends and acquaintances that lift me up in innumerable ways? Have I told each one how special they are to me? Do they know that without their presence in my life, each day would be a little less bright? Do they know that I could not get through today without them?

I get caught up in my days, in my ego, in my thoughts about what my tomorrows will be. I get caught up in thoughts of fear and loss, what if I say the wrong thing, what if it is silly? I get caught up in what I think is reality, which is quicksand for the dreamer.  I hide some of me or all of me depending on who is looking.

How sweet the world might be if we stopped hiding; if we shared words of kindness with each other instead of words of fear or lack. I don't think it is naive to believe that by pursuing our own happiness we could create joy, peace and love in the lives of those around us. It's a win-win.

Today I choose to step into the unknown and stop hiding.