Holding joy and sorrow

May I be joyful in a world of such devastating sorrow? Some days I feel shame for my privileges, health and happiness. But shame serves no-one. Instead, it stands in the way of allowing full grief and sorrow to be felt, as well as joy and gratitude. Shutting it all down is to deny life and to self-poison. ⁠⠀
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Today I cultivate wholeheartedness, allowing both joy and sorrow to have their full place in my heart. To feel my humanness. To grieve. To be grateful. To be fully alive at this time. ⁠⠀
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My goodness it can be hard. And yet this is my practice. ⁠⠀
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"Joy and sorrow - they come together. When one sits alone with you at your table remember that the other is asleep upon your bed......... The deeper sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain." Kahlil Gibran