Dedicated to the Ones I Love

I glanced at my calendar and realized I almost forgot a very special day. For two people that mean a lot to myself and my husband. On this day last year this special couple vowed to spend the rest of their lives together. On this special day I would like to share my absolute favorite poem. You both mean so much to me and I hope that you will enjoy this poem as much as I do. Hugs & Kisses.


"The Invitation"
By Oriah Mountain Dreamer

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for, and if you dare

to dream of meeting your heart's longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are. I want to know

if you will risk looking like a fool for love, for your dreams,

for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon.

I want to know if you have touched the center of your own

sorrow, if you have been opened by life's betrayals or have

become shriveled and closed from fear of further pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain, mine or your own,

without moving to hide or fade it or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy, mine your own:

if you can dance with the wildness and let the ecstasy

fill you to the finger and toes without cautioning us

to be careful, be realistic, or to remember the limitations

of being human.

It doesn't interest me if the story you are telling me is true.

I want to know if you can disappoint others to be true to

yourself: if you can bear the accusation of betrayal and

not betray your own soul.

I want to know if you can be faithful

and therefore be trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see the beauty even when it

is not pretty every day, and if you can source your life

from Its presence.

I want to know if you can live with failure,

yours and mine, and still stand on the edge

of the lake and shout to the silver

of the full moon, "Yes!"

It doesn't interest me to know where you live,

or how much money you have. I want to know

if you can get up after the night of grief and

despair, weary and bruised to the bone,

and do what needs to be done for the children.

It doesn't interest me who you are,

or how you came to be here,

I want to know if you will stand in

the center of the fire with me and not

shrink back.

It doesn't interest me where or

what or with whom you have studied. I want to know

what sustains you from the inside when

all else falls away.

I want to know if you can be alone with yourself,
and if you truly like the company you keep

in the empty moments.