Some words just make you think. About what it really means to be human and to be loving and to love other humans.

The thing is, sometimes we people just do a really bad job of loving.

Mostly, I think, because we let things get in the way.

Things like expectations. Judgment. Wanting to turn people into what it is that we want them to be instead of loving them for who they are, which is what we all want people to do for us.

“When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn’t get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don’t get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.

The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying ‘You are too this, or I’m too this.’ That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are.” (~Ram Dass)

So when I read these words, they sort of grabbed my heart a bit and made me think that maybe this might be one way to think about letting go of the judging. One way to think about letting in some light, some love, some allowing people to be who they are. One way to think about loving people just the way they are.

A reminder. Words to tuck into the heart, repeat, think about when loving gets hard.

Maybe even words to print up and tack on the fridge or frame for the wall?

Yeah, some words just make you think.

About how to appreciate people more.

Judge them less.

Practice turning people into trees, maybe.

Either way, love.

~xo,
LuAnne