Love can hide in quiet little corners, waiting for you to notice it. It can be a bold wake up call when you least expect it. Love, I feel, is like most things in this world. It will come and go with the ebb and flow. It can be a strong current that reduces to a calm stream. I knew love when I married my husband. Love overwhelmed me when my daughter was born. I still have waves of complete adoration and love, but there are moments when it ceases to be obvious. I become busy with bills and grocery lists and clogged sinks. My husband and I high-five as we switch baby duty shifts and I often run my daughter through dinner, bath and bedtime books like we’re on a military schedule. This is usually when life decides to shake you awake.
I accepted my cancer diagnosis as a wake-up call. What I couldn’t accept was my loss of income, my astronomical insurance deductible and the fact that I fell through the government’s cracks and wasn’t able to obtain any financial assistance. I felt plagued with guilt. I felt the battle was lost on all ends. I could make the decision to take care of my health, my growing baby and my toddler and leave our family with bill collectors scaling the side of our building for payments. I could keep working, exhausting all energy on a paycheck to make ends meet but physically and emotionally be unable to sustain the strength a good mom and wife needs.
Then, love knocked on my door. It was subtle, and since “stubborn” is my middle name, I resisted. I am a strong woman who can carry the world on my shoulders. I don’t need help. I’ll make my own miracle. The knock became a little more persistent. Finally, love took the door off and handed me one of the most incredible gifts. It started with a girlfriend setting up on online fundraiser to help with our medical bills. Then, our family started a collection to help supplement my loss of income. I was getting emails from other mothers who offered to pump breast milk for my newborn baby since I would be unable to while undergoing treatment. What started as a few generous people exploded into a whole community coming together in support of our family. Musicians and artists and owners of restaurants were all wanting to throw benefits. Local mothers were offering memberships to parents’ clubs so I could get help with meals and babysitting. Spa owners were offering prenatal massages to reduce the stress I was under. A local paper picked up the story and started posting updates on my health so everyone could be kept in the loop.
This is love at its very best. When someone gives without the expectation of receiving anything in return. There is nothing I can give back. I profess my gratitude on a daily basis, but most people shyly accept, as if they didn’t need the acknowledgement. I have been incredibly gifted in love. It is a daily reminder that this universe has taken care of me, and that love can conquer all. With all this positive energy from the goodwill of this community, I have the fight and drive to beat cancer. With the love of family and strangers alike, I have the desire and responsibility to pay it forward. Love isn’t meant to be kept to oneself. Love is to be shared and passed about, generously and without restraint. It is meant to be noticed in the little actions of a smile or help across the street. It is meant to be acknowledged when it eases a burden. Most importantly, love is free. You can give it without limitations. You can receive it without inhibition. Love has no boundaries and indeed holds the ability to exceed every obstacle, and expectation… that is, if you’re paying attention and “allow” it to. I appreciate the opportunity to accept this overpowering love and will spend the rest of my days sharing the wealth.
Brita!! You can’t write a post like this and not include where and how to help!! I’m sure I’m not alone in wanting this info, so accept a little more love and point me/us in the right direction, please. 😉
You’re so sweet 🙂 Here’s the link to the website my girlfriend set up. I also am taking donations of laughter. I know where we can go to lunch for that! We’ll start with the eggs!
http://www.giveforward.com/teambrita?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_wall&utm_campaign=user_vanity_page
You just filled me with love! And made me cry a bit. There’s more love and hugs coming your way right now from across the ocean. : )
Oh Brita! I second Natalie’s sentiments exactly. You are so inspiring and are in my thoughts often. Also, assuming nursing my pup goes well as it did with Max, I would love to offer milk for your new pup.
So beautifully put!!!
Dear Brita,
This is my first time visiting your blog; and as I read your beautiful words about love, I can’t help but smile and cry {a little} at the same time. Please know, these are tears of joy, just knowing in my heart how much love and appreciation you radiant so brilliantly and beautifully in your being and just how many people are on your fighting team!
I have to admit though, as a fellow “blogger,” I feel so silly now blogging daily about my latest vintage find or style crush . . . it pales in comparison to the true inspiration I have found here with you.
I know we do not know each other, although we do have a few mutual friends, but I want you to know that as a young mama, {i have two boys, James and Oliver, ages 3 and 1.5} I understand how incredibly special true friendship is; and I would be so honored to consider you one of my friends.
One of our mutual friends is your yoga teacher LB. Recently she asked me if I would like to help her organize a fundraising event for you and your family at Yoga Works. And the answer I told her, is that I would LOVE to! So, I am! And I hope that this also means that we will get the opportunity to meet in person!?
In the meantime, I look forward to reading your blog and planning a kick ass event in your honor and “all in the name of LOVE!” {too cheesy? maybe? yea. haha}
xoxo
Sam
ps. if you ever want to get together for a play date or want to chat, you can email me at sam@vintageisforlovers.com. i can give you my phone number too? I also would love to share your blog with my readers. Would you mind?
Brita you are a wonderfully rare breed of human. You bring brilliant light into the lives of every person you encounter. It is not possible to have crossed paths with you and not see and feel and bask in the beautiful light that you shine. It is no wonder to me that you have a whole fan club of “Britateers” (Mouskateers…. is that too far a reach?) climbing over eachother to fill you up with their love and support. No one can resist the oportunity to reflect back some of that amazing light you shine on all of us.