Honor Humility

Humility is the quiet strength that is undervalued and difficult to embrace. It sits in the background waiting for stillness and a breath into the feeling of softness, quietness and kindness.  It is the gratitude that whispers, “I accept your help.”  It is four simple words, “I made a mistake.” 

Humility is the ability to listen and truly hear another’s perspective when the beliefs and ideas are on opposite poles of a planet.  Humility is a work in progress - a lifelong practice.  Humility is the gentle acceptance that sings to the soul, "it is okay to be human”.  It is the ability to let go of your shield and be okay with your imperfections. It is the gift of permission for others to feel safe around you.  Humility is the ability to laugh at yourself with raucous laughter - the kind that leaves you on the ground with a fit of giggles and the glitter of joy in the air.

One of my greatest lessons of humility was the pleading of a hike leader, “Let me take your pack” as we hiked up the Andes Mountains.  “Let me help.”  There was an eye connection.  My jaw softened, my eyes glanced down and then I looked up with gratitude. I took my pack off and allowed someone else to carry my burden.  At that moment of release, I was reminded of all the times I had pleaded with my mother to allow others to help her and she adamantly refused.  She withheld someone else’s ability to give a gift.  It was at that moment when my pack left my hands and was carried by another, that I would realize that humility is putting someone else first. 

Honoring humility in our daily lives is is the invitation to be seen  exactly as we are.