"there is a chink in the armor"

I thought myself to be sensitive and open about my feelings, but today I realize that as we go about our daily lives and interact with people on so many differing levels we are in fact making the choice of letting them into our parlour so to speak, letting them in behind the guard we have slowly built up around our hearts to keep the barrage of emotions at bay and allow us to go about our business without falling to pieves at the drop of a hat.

Then something happens

Something that is unsettling

it is like holding up an opaque object to the light only to see the sliver of light getting through
that sliver is big enough to let through those feeling that you thought you had in check

In my proffession it is imperative to maintain that water tight barrier or life will come flooding through and sweep you away.
Leaving you a wet sopping mess-of-a-person totally drained and unable to cope.

So as a nurse one of the quintiscential caring compassionate proffessions in the world it is important to maintain the hard candy coating to our hearts.
But today I realized after my work night that someone flew in under the radar... there is a chink in the armor I painstakingly erected to keep safe and protected-- this thought was both humbling and terrifying

So my friends as I head to bed after a nightshift that was both equal parts physically exhauting as well as emotionally difficult do a quick check to make sure your hearts are not vulnerable yet not too difficult to penetrate... because it is the people who find a way into your hearts that make life so rich and full--those moments of reflection and learning are so much better and the relationships you make with people every day so much more rewarding and meaningful

so as I lay me down to sleep-- hug your loved ones and be thankful for those who weaken those barriers by making us stronger