This zigzag life is beautiful and messy and uncertain and hard.

Instead of ignoring and stuffing away the different emotions that arise during this time, I am learning to name them. Acknowledge them. Offer them a seat and sit with them. Just be with them.

When we begin to embrace all these different feelings with compassion and empathy, we also acknowledge and learn to befriend the light and dark parts of ourselves in a profound way. This perspective allows us to reframe difficult experiences as gifts.

Rather than resisting the uncomfortable emotions that surface, learn to embrace them with compassion. Sit with them. Listen to what they have to say. They can be our teachers too.