The Brightening

Hello there. You made it up here. Look at that fire. It has been burning on this hill since before anyone can remember. Every time, without fail. Sit with me for a moment. You have had a week. Everyone who comes up here has had a week. Some of it was hard. Some of it passed without you noticing. Some of it sat on you quietly, the way things do when you don't have time to put them down. Cast your mind back to last Monday. Not to judge anything. Just to see it. What did this week ask of you? Let it come. You know what it is. Now, that thing you are still carrying. The one that doesn't need to come into next week with you. You know the one. Name it. Just for yourself. A few words is enough. You don't need to explain it to anyone. Write it down or say it aloud. Now give it to the fire. Leave it here in this circle. It no longer needs to be with you. It doesn't come with you from here. It stays where it belongs. Not with you. --- Now, think of the good that came out of this week. It might be small, there may be many things that come to mind. It could be a moment, a conversation, something you did or noticed or understood. Something that belongs to you. What is it? Let it come. Write it down. In your own words. Reflect on the feeling, the image you have in your mind. What you are keeping from this week. That's yours now. It goes with you. --- Well done. You've done something tonight that most people never do. You looked at your week honestly. You named what to put down. You chose what to keep. That is not a small thing. If you find hard times in the coming days, reflect back on what you kept. You will see it brings you comfort. Go well this week. Something is lighter now. You'll feel it.