the bravest thing one can do is lay down one's life for another.

what is even braver, and arguably more difficult, is to pick one's life back up again.

to rebuild. to restart. to reclaim.

some seasons of life demand our full attention. 

our full selves.

and then an inch more.

there are many ways to cope with this loss.

denial. shame. guilt. mourning. blame. numbing.

 full immersion. 

I say loss and I do mean loss.

you do lose yourself when you lay yourself down.

what was, what could've been. 

the beautiful truth is,

what is picked back up is not the same.

we are not the same. 

our cells have turned over. 

we have wisdom and new experience.

walls to add to our foundation of who we once were.

mourn what was.

be joyful with what is.

hope for what can be.