At one point in my life I was grieving a loss and
my ex-beatnik uncle told me, "When one door closes, another door opens...learn to
appreciate and embrace changes in your life."It gave me a strange comfort and I knew deep in my bones that he was
expressing a great truth.He knew from
experience.
This memory made me think about the changes time and life
itself takes on our faces and bodies.Then
there are hands.There aren't enough
portraits of hands.We disguise them
with rings and other jewelry, paint and fake nails, bracelets...all sorts of
things happen with how we display our hands.I just recently removed my fake nails.For the last 12-13 years I've been sporting acrylics and hoping to have
long slim graceful fingers.Somehow I've
ignored and lost the magic of my hands.They are very expressive and short fingered, wide and strong in a
feminine way.There are scars on them
from my hairdressing days, burns from irons, cuts and other weathering.Yet, I think they've retained a youthful
look.I haven't excessive wrinkles or
stains.
What have hands to do with doors?Well, try to open or close a door without
your hands.You can, but it is
difficult.All your life, transitions,
decisions and changes are in your hands.Look at your hands the next time you are going to make an important
decision.What do your hands tell you
about yourself?Think both literally and
figuratively!!
Are you weathered, tired, sickly, dried out, callused, soft,
weak or strong?Isn't a lot of it
displayed right there?Look at your
hands and see what you have become.I've
decided to accept my hands for the peasant lineage, hardworking, expressive and
comforting limbs they are.I can't
imagine doing much without them.They
nurture, love, caress, soothe, clean and maintain so much in my life.If I've ever shaken or held your hand you
know how much they can tell you about me.My determination and character is all over them.
