SKY AND CAGE by BethAnne Kapansky

I wrote this on a day where I found myself breathing so much for others, I was gasping for my own breath…

It is a reminder that we are given the beautiful gift of self for the purpose of honoring, cherishing and loving that gift. Though we may choose to give much of ourselves to others, we are not owed to anyone.

I believe that when we share our energies, resources and hearts out of a sense of obligation, we are not operating from a space of authenticity, truth or love, and we begin to feel diminished. We end up denying ourselves the very ingredients we need to nurture our souls, expand our lungs and care for the gift of self.

On the other hand, when we operate from a space of freedom, choice and grace, we allow our hearts the space they need to let their wild horses run free, so we can seek the ingredients that give us an abundant sense of self and continue to become who each of us is meant to be.

Sky and Cage

You owe yourself to no one.

Your precious energy

your life force indebted

to none but you as you

find and live your heart path.

Along the way you may find

you share freely and willingly

with others whose paths you

cross in beautiful, woven

harmonious connection.

But your lovely breaths

are not meant to be bound

or obligated, only given

by choice and open heart.

This is the difference between

freedom and enslavement

love and imitation

grace and law,

Sky and cage.

BethAnne Kapansky: I am a Clinical Psychologist enjoying life from my tiny corner of Anchorage, Alaska. I love writing personal essays, composing quirky poetry, and creating whimsical art. I can often be found on top of the nearest mountain or running through the trails of my beloved woods with my little white dog who has the legs of a gazelle and mighty heart of a lion. My work has been published in The Elephant Journal and When Women Waken and used in collaboration with a local dance company to create performance art. I am inspired by nature, rainbows, cake, hearts, the power of women, the thousand faces of love, and the beautiful journey of becoming more fully human. I can be found on Facebook or on my blog: Sunshine in Winter, here.

~If you are interested in seeing your poetry appear in this blog, or submitting a poem by a woman that has inspired you, please click here for submission guidelines. I greatly look forward to hearing from you!~

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