“When you feel the suffering of every living thing in your own heart, that is consciousness.” ~Bhagavad Gita 

It is always darkest before the dawn.

That’s always when it hits me hard and fast, like a sucker punch to the gut.

I can’t sleep and I am overwhelmed with the pain of the world. I feel you all.

The hopeless junkie sinking to new lows for just one more fix, because you feel like there is no hope for you, or that you just don’t care enough to try a different way—I feel you. I want to hug you and show you a better way.

The girl, locking herself in the bathroom to vomit up her last meal, because your mind is telling you that you’re not thin enough at 110lbs—I feel you I see you. I want to tell you you’re beautiful.

The boy huddled up in bed crying because he is so sensitive to the world and his emotions, and ashamed of this because society has taught you that men are supposed to be tough—I feel you. I want to tell you that you’re more of a man by feeling all that and showing it.

The woman crying alone in her bathroom with another black eye, who won’t leave because you are more scared of being alone than you are of the beatings–-I feel you and I know you. I want to show you how much more you are worth.

The dogs being dragged off to the gas chambers of animal shelters because you are deemed “unadoptable” or “unwanted”—God, I feel you. I want to hug you and take you away from the pain that you never asked for.

The man who knows no other way but the way he was raised, closed off a victim of abuse, yelling, hitting, that the only way you know is rage so you perpetuate the cycle while drowning in your own inner pain and shame—I feel you and I forgive you.

The girl who feels filthy and ashamed after being raped, because your mind is telling you that you asked for it, so you must have wanted it—I feel you. I want to show you that no matter what you never deserve that.

The ones who feel alone, so lonely in the dark of night, or feel the dark of night all day long, because your depression is so consuming and over powers all intentions you had for the day—I feel you. I want to hug you and show you the light.

To the ones whose heads don’t stop telling them how much they suck, because early in life someone instilled that belief system in you—I feel you. I want to help you reform those beliefs about yourself and tell you that you are perfect.

The people raised in war torn places, who have no access to greater knowledge and are doomed to the perpetuating cycle of violence that ignorance and lust for power has brought upon your world—I feel you and I understand your plight.

The teenager who is cutting their own skin or hurting themselves perhaps contemplating suicide, because you feel there is no other outlet for all your emotional pain—I feel you. I want to tell you that it will all be okay, share your pain with someone. We care.

The one who is inflicting suffering on some poor defenseless animal, because you are in so much pain yourself and you know no better than what you know—I feel you. I want to teach you a better way and help you find your compassion.

The seemingly soulless people running the world who would sell out their own children for more power and money, because you believe that you are all powerful and the answer to life lies on ego–-I feel you. I have hope yet for you that your soul still exists in there somewhere and that maybe you do lose a little sleep over your actions. It can’t just be me feeling your pain

To you all I send love. I send healing and hugs. I send the knowledge that you are not alone, you will never be alone.

Reach out, we are here.

We feel you. 

Relephant:

4 Mantras to Help Overcome Suffering.

~

Author: Lindsay Carricarte

Editor: Catherine Monkman

Photo: Sharon Sinclair/Flickr