“It is, I think, that we are all so alone in what lies deepest in our souls, so unable to find the words and perhaps the courage to speak with unlocked hearts, that we do not know at all that it is the same with others.”
Sheldon Vanauken

This drawing came up from somewhere at the bottom of my soul. As soon as I started drawing her face tears welled up in my eyes. For she is me, and we have been very lost, yet we are coming through dark days again and better than I could describe it are the words above. Though I am 68 and you are whatever age you are, though I have been dealing with increasing physical disabilities and issues, you, too, have your burdens to carry. I had a very hard doctor’s appointment last Thursday and came home with a bag full of meds and some pretty significant changes in the care of this aging body, and it shook me to my core, but the days go on, as yours do for you. What is helping me most is to realize that I am not alone. As Vanauken wrote “it is the same with others.” I think when we can speak our truth, knowing that someone is listening and caring, our burdens are somehow lightened, and we feel less alone. I am reaching out to you so that you know you are not alone. I am here for you.

I have been doing this work online for over 25 years, before blogs and social media were a thing. I have grown as have we all, I have had a number of blogs, but this blog, Maitri’s Heart, is now 16 years old and truly is my heartwork. And this blog is something I plan to be more active with, supported by my Patrons at Patreon, some of which will be in the book I’m writing. But more than that, now that I am determined to continue on, come what may, to the best of my ability, I want to reiterate something that I’ve said all along.

When I write these blog posts I am writing to you, and I would love to hear from you. If you feel alone and you just need to share what it is your heart, what you are afraid of, what’s going on with you, please leave a comment below and I will answer you. I will answer you here, on Patreon, on Facebook and on Instagram. And if some days I am feeling unwell it may take me just a little bit longer to answer (I usually answer right away or at least within 24 hours, although the last 6 months since I was badly injured and ended up with all manner of difficulties my response time got slower. It is better now.) I see this as my spiritual path and though I am older now and disabled my heart is wide open. I want you to know that you can come to me, here. I cannot keep up with private emails so please write to me here or in one of my other places I mentioned above. And know that when you write in your concerns you are helping others who may not have voiced theirs but needed to hear what you had to say.

I have written for decades about the issues I deal with. Having been seriously sexually abused from 4-18, living with mental health issues of all types, from Bipolar disorder, PTSD, severe anxiety and depression, agoraphobia and more, to this body of mine that has been aging rather gracelessly, though I am trying my best to take care of myself, make friends with my body, and then focus on my work. Focus on spreading light and love through my writings and art, and to let you know that you are not alone. This is deeply important to me and I am very grateful to my Patrons at Patreon who are helping support me to do this work.

So dear ones what are you carrying now that weighs you down? Physical issues, mental health conditions, loneliness, aging, a longing to do something that you are afraid to do? Write to me here, let’s talk. I want people to know that more things are possible than we ever imagine, that we can survive and surmount all manner of difficulties, as I am, as others are, and if we talk about them we open a window and let fresh air and light in, we can see ourselves and our lives, and with practice we can see more and more possibilities, what I have always called “potent possibilities abundant.”

Patreon is the home for my most intimate sharings, we have a Zoom gathering once a month, I give art, and publications I have made, do one on one sessions on a very limited basis, and more. It is helping me survive in so many ways. But I am reaching out through all venues because I care, and I believe it’s what I was put on this earth to do. And so I shall continue, despite my limitations, to do as much as I can. I’m finding that expanding out into the world as much as I can from my little cottage in the woods is far more life-giving than contracting in fear and now chronic pain. I hear Eleanor Roosevelt in my head saying that wonderful quote, “We must do the thing we think we cannot do.” I’m trying. And I’m here to encourage you to do the same.

Onward dear ones. Onward we go. You are in my heart.