Heart covered in Stretch Marks

Out hearts expand and retract... over and over again. It's what life, love, and relationships demand of us. And it's the most beautiful sign of a life well lived. It means that we've allowed ourselves to be vulnerable time and time again. Even when there's enough "proof" to shut it down and never want to put ourselves out there again . 

I know it can be painful at times (actually most of the time), but it's the only way. It's easy to walk away, resist it, avoid, or manipulate it, but that doesn't stretch our hearts the way we need. Our hearts only stretch when we put them to work. They can only expand when we let them feel... deeply feel. Our hearts only stretch and come out when we are brave enough to enter the storm. The stretching never stops. Even when you find an incredible partner... your journey doesn't stop there. Let yourself stretch. Let yourself become marked. It's the only way. Stretch and mark. Stretch and mark. You're not alone. You are resilient and it will lead you further.