The Gift of Presence
This week I am reminded of the gift of presence. Whether in times of celebration, accomplishment, and joy or in times of heartbreak, illness, or loss — what do we long for most but for those we care about to show up. And to show up big, right? If you are human and still walking the planet, the odds are high that you have suffered the pain of planning a party that no one comes to or having a win go unacknowledged or uncelebrated. If you still have a pulse, you most likely have had days when you were bursting with excitement to share your news with someone, ready to paint the town red only to find out that everyone else was busy, preoccupied and there would be no dancing in the streets after all.
How much more, then, in our most profound times of need, disappointment and loss, do we need to look into the faces of those who have chosen to show up, offering the gift of their presence? Just the mere fact that they are here speaks volumes: the vibration of their voice, the comfort of their embrace, the assurance in their eyes, the fragile emotion reflected back to us in their faces — all visceral signs that we are not alone. We are seen, known, and loved. No matter what we face, it is somehow less egregious if we face it together. Presence. The gift of presence. We simply cannot underestimate the power of showing up.
