Unpublished Work © 2011 Cristina Carlino 

We so often hear the expression “are you looking at a glass half empty or half full?”  This week my change goes to the heart.   I aim to keep asking, am I walking through my day with a heart half empty or half full?  How often have we all gone through a day or two or more forgetting we are running only on the steam of our thoughts?  For me, this is running on empty – running through and out of days.

With a heart half full I can travel light like a butterfly.  The butterfly too has a heart.  It stretches all along the side of her body.  But she does not have a say in how she connects to her heart each day.  We do.

Even when our hearts are filled with sorrow because we have lost someone we loved dearly or feel the pain of someone we love, when I  can ask to give up fighting  what my heart is feeling,   there are rooms in it for all that I am and doors wide open for everyone else.  The heart expands into a mansion even though it is actually only the size of a fist.

So this week I want to be conscious – to check in again:   Is my heart into what I am and what I am doing now?  And now?  And now, too?

How can I know?  Here’s a short checklist I’ve made up to help ask myself- is my heart half empty or half full?   Perhaps it may help you, too and I would also love to hear your ideas to add to this list.

My half empty heart says I can’t love you because of “x”.

My heart half full says I will love you in spite of “x” and even try to love you thoroughly.

The half empty heart seeks pity.

The half full heart seeks help if it needs it and joy wherever it can find it.

My half empty heart will repel people

My heart half full attracts them.

My half empty heart doesn’t let go of what should be forgotten.

A half full heart is tattooed with the memory of unconditional love.

My half empty heart says “why me?”

My half full heart asks, “why not me?”

The half empty heart basks in a pool of regret.

The half full heart has a play date with acceptance.

My heart half empty is heavy to carry

My half full heart is lighter than air

And cares deeply for how I do my part in helping it to survive

by the foods I choose and the exercise I give it or not.

And in those most precious moments when my heart is full up,

I will know because then I am humble,

And listening to the voice within that forever knows

Here we are – this day in paradise.

Thank you for joining me here.

With grace and gratitude,

Cristina