For the Love of Yourself

Do what you do for the love of yourself
Bring purple candles of preparation
To the altar of your life.

Hum in your heart to calm your fears
Of living fully
And know that full joy is just a seed
Planted in your soul
Yet to flourish in unimagined forms.

Walk by a tree and hug it.
Let a song caress your ears
Allow your gentle tears to fall
For lost hopes and dented dreams.

Sigh for unknown futures
Breathe deeply of the silence
And know that your pain
Is but a breaking open
Of yourself
To be yourself.

© Sherrie Connelly, 1984

“For the Love of Yourself” first appeared in a Los Angeles community news and event paper, Life Times, Fall 1987.  Organist and composer Ralph Hooper is setting this poem to music for the Centennial Celebration of Sausalito Presbyterian Church.

This poem was written for a dear friend, first encountered at the Organization Development Network Halloween party in full clown regalia, and months later experiencing the pains of a divorce and career change. Perhaps I could communicate some comfort to him in a poem that other words might not convey. Since then people going through all kinds of different life transitions have found this poem meaningful. 

Contact information: Sherrie Connelly * Moonlight Farm * 870 East Napa Street * Sonoma, CA 95476 * 707-933-8007 * Fax 8006 * moonlightfarm@hotmail.com

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Copyright © 1999. All rights reserved. Revised: October 13, 2009