The seventh and last valley of Attar is the Valley of Deprivation and Death. This is the valley of forgetting all.

I struggle with feeling so much in the world. I struggle understanding why I feel. A change of mind is called for.

The love in this valley goes beyond love of self, love of other. I am in love but I do not know with whom.

I was letting go removing this daily reminder. The ashes set me free. I said a prayer, closed my eyes and released.

I breathe in patience and breathe out compassion. I stand as one with my spirit and human body, guided by my soul. I am whole.

Every process has its own journey with a beginning, a middle and a winding down. I'm in process within the system of life. Life is a process

As soon as I stopped fighting with her disease, as soon as I stopped resisting, something drastically changed.

Every moment is a choice. I choose not to abandon myself. I give fear a voice. I feel it fully and then move on.

It feels burdensome to have the responsibility of making me happy. It’s a crossroads I find myself at when I forget it’s up to me.

The first time I experienced a letting go of me I thought I was dying. I was surprised when I woke up.

As I breathe with an open heart, my ability to stay in this settled presence allows me to listen within and grow roots.

I was more of a black and white thinker years ago maneuvering through the world judging good/bad, safe/unsafe, fun/not fun. I see hues now.

I learned as a child if my clothes catch on fire to stop, drop and roll. Metaphorically, stop, drop and roll is not far off from Covid news.

Pain is a teacher that nags at me when I don’t pay attention. I never experienced unrelenting pain until I was brought to my knees by fibro

The first valley is about casting aside dogma and belief. What beliefs must I cast aside? Attar says, “Bread is always a need of the hungry"

The birth of writing is a metaphor for living. We never know where a journey will end. It’s only important to do the journey's work.

We can choose to focus on fear and predict dire outcomes. Or we can focus on our breath and listen. Healing happens when you do the work.

Maybe it’s a habit of worry. Maybe it’s my way of reminding myself I’m not in control. Daily I let go and bring in gentleness.

I used to be a grudge holder. If someone hurt me, I would forever remember who they were and what they did. Then I learned something.

I have used food all my life to hide my pain. Then I faced my food issues as a spiritual practice.