– be gentle.”
Rose petals are
soft,
fragile,
easily torn,
and grow in layers
to produce a beautiful flower
that opens when given water and sunlight.
Feelings are very similar to rose petals. People have many layers to their emotions and personality with the most fragile and delicate hidden until there is trust and safety with another.
I am tenderhearted and cry easily.
Many times I have wished that I could have a tough heart and dry tear ducts. If someone yells or cusses at me, I’m crushed and withdraw. Shortly thereafter, I cry. It feels like a wimpy weakness and yet when others have the same trait, I do not see it as their weakness. I’m a perfectionist, so I usually have one set of easy standards for everyone else and really tough ones for myself.
This is something I work on all the time.
before your own feelings,
and the feelings of others
before your own rights.”
The major drawback in have tender feelings that come quickly to the surface is that often selfish people take advantage of me. Sometimes, I don’t even see it happening until it is over. That is infuriating and usually heart wrenching because I give of my time, talents and love freely.
My goal is to work on remaining true to myself and rose petal feelings while preventing others from seeing me as easy prey.
This is much easier said than done.
Do you share in my dilemma or have you progressed past my weakness and can share advice on how you got to this place in your life?
but they will never forget
how you made them feel.”
I feel this way too! The only healing or relief I've ever found is in Jesus, chocolate, wine, long showers, and a good movie.
Tonight I'm watching Pride and Prejudice (the BBC Colin Firth version of course).
😉
i understand that perfectly well being so sensitive and emotional. in fact i don't forget even the deed done and 10fold is the feeling during such event. and being such, i am truly careful of what others may feel as well.
BUT with a certain year of experiencing too much pain (about 5 years ago) i learned to be stronger. i learned to put a wall in times that it is needed to avoid being burned. God helped me along the way, and may be the reason He let me experience it ~ to become more capable in handling the evilness of the world. Yet, my concern for others did not change. In fact the need to protect others doubled knowing that they may not have gotten past the "sensitiveness" yet.
one thing i'm sure of…i couldn't have done it without the help of the Almighty =)
I too, am easily taken advantage of. I have always been far too giving of my time, talents and love. I used to give of myself so freely, that at one point – I gave away more than I could recapture.
To use your rose analogy, I closed up tight and subsequently wilted away. I have managed to shut more people out of my life than I care to remember.
Now, it is my husband (who is my bestest friend) and my daughters … and that has to be it. I can't trust myself not to get stuck in the trap and I don't trust anyone else not to lead me there.
BTW – I don't necessarily recommend my method.
OH SHERRY THESE ARE MOMS ROSES, YOU HAVE PERSERVED THEM FOREVER. THEY ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU. AS FOR YOUR POST, I AM 66 AND HAVE NOT LEARNED YET HOW TO BUILD A WALL. I AM NOW IN SUCH A BAD PLACE IN EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE. I AM EITHER GOING TO DIE OR I HAVE ONE HECK OF A BLESSING COMING, MAYBE I AM GOING TO WIN THE LOTO.LOL
YOUR OLE MOM