No qualifications needed

I Love to Read, originally uploaded by Carlos Porto

I watched the opening ceremonies for the Olympics when resting my eyes between chapters of my book. What a beautiful sight to see; there were flags waving, fireworks dancing, and athletes’ faces glowing in the spotlights as they paraded around the arena. They were awestruck. I would be too. I can only imagine how rewarding it must have felt to be there after so many years of training, competing and qualifying for the honor to represent their countries.

I haven’t set foot on a track or a basketball courts in years, but I still see a lot of people training, competing, and qualifying for their position in life. They collect names in little black books, homes on each coast, and certificates and initials behind their names to prove their worthiness to be here on Earth.

That includes me. I’ve done it too.

I chose expensive private schools over the state schools to prove that I was intelligent. I juggled men to prove that I was desirable. I started baking from scratch and whittling wood to make handmade toys to prove that I was a good homemaker and thoughtful mother. But through all of that training and competing—trying to qualify—I just became exhausted (and broken-hearted). I became a stress-fractured soul limping along, trying to make it to that finish line that I never could find.

Why?
To feel worthy? (Of what?)
To feel seen? (By whom?)

I don’t know where we learned that we are broken. Maybe we learned it from the Bible; about how Eve ate that apple and ruined all of us who came after. Maybe we learned it from the Greeks: Zeus gave Pandora to Epimetheus and she unleashed the plagues of mankind. Maybe we learned it from a parent or a loved one who in subtle, or not-so-subtle ways, made us feel undeserving or invisible.

It’s such a shame it takes us so long to realize that that is not the truth.

What is true is that we are born whole and full of goodness.

What is true is that we are worthy of love.

What is true is that we deserve to be seen, to be held in light.

What is true is that we are created in the image of God/Goddess/Source/The Divine and there is no need for us to try so hard to prove that we deserve to be here on this earth.

I just need to be me. You just need to be you.

There are no other qualifications needed.