A few weeks after my dear mother’s passing, an email arrived in my inbox with those words in the subject line.  How true I thought. Not only do we need each other to aid our physical healing, but our emotional and spiritual healing as well. My mind wandered back to the preceding weeks. I thought of family members and friends who drove many miles to share in our grieving and give support. It was a mutual sharing as we each gave and soaked in the love we had for my mother and each other. I saw the flood of cards my father received from all over the country. A beautiful plant was delivered from old friends in Ecuador. Cards greeted me too from my fellow teachers at school. Such a small thing I thought, sending a card. Yet it meant so much to me knowing these people would take the time to show me they cared. Each card touched my grief and stirred it, making way for just a little bit more healing. No one heals alone. Our hearts need to know we matter. We need to know someone cares. We need to care for others. Healing, I believe, comes from caring and being cared for, giving and receiving, not just within our tight circles of friends and family, but beyond. Sometimes the littlest things- a card or a comment on a post, can make such a big difference to both giver and receiver. I thought too of my recent back surgery. From prior experience I knew that given several months my body would reabsorb the disk matter pushing on the nerve. I did not want to go through more months of excruciating pain nor risk more nerve damage.  I intuitively knew surgery was my best option, sooner rather than later. That relief would not have been possible without my husband helping me, and the skill of the doctors and nurses who cared for me. How thankful I was to be able to travel a week later, with my husband driving, to be with my family during the funeral. Without the surgery, that would not have been possible. Normally I procrastinate terribly before resorting to conventional medical intervention. Somehow, this time the decision seemed already made and the temptation to wait a bit was tabled. I have to believe Someone else was helping and guiding me by whispering to my soul. No one heals alone. In my grieving I somehow understood inside myself that healing would require me to not only receive, but to give. But how, I wondered. Being there for my family seemed obvious, but this giving needed to go beyond that. My heart has always gone out to shelter animals, especially the dogs. We adopted our new boy, Teddy, from the shelter. He healed from his abuse and neglect and in turn brought healing laughter to our home. He was my physical therapist after surgery, taking me for my required walks every day, even when I didn’t feel like it. Still, I wanted to do something for the dogs left behind. There must be something I could do for them, even as I recovered. Finally, inspiration came. Give the dogs a bone, a marrow bone. Marrow bones can be enjoyed for months. Every dog at the pound got one. Every dog at the pound will get another one this month, and again. In the grand scheme of life, this little gift may not be much. It doesn’t solve the problem.  But in my little corner of the world, it makes a difference. I watch with joy as those poor dogs, bored with hours of sitting in a cage, eagerly accept a pat and some loving words along with their bones. I know that for a few hours at least, they will thoroughly enjoy gnawing and licking out the marrow. As I bring the dogs a little bit of happiness, I feel happier. No one heals alone. As I continue to ponder these words, I realize the depth and scope of them. There is no possible way we could exist, let alone heal, alone. Our guts are filled with trillions of microbes that keep us alive and healthy.  Mother Earth gifts us medicinal herbs, crystals, water, nutritious foods for life and healing. I could go on. How each of us receives those gifts, matters. Do you take it for granted? Do you take or receive? Do you give back and pay it forward out of love and appreciation, or do you feel entitled and pay what you owe grudgingly? I ask those questions because how you answer them matters. It matters energetically and it matters spiritually. Feel your honest answers in your body and you will see what I mean. May you open your heart to receiving healing from others and the world around you. May you freely offer that gift of healing to others, from your heart, even as you heal, for your benefit and theirs. No one heals alone.]]>