I feel fine

I have a collection of books. They take up 5 bookcases in my living room. Not to mention the stacks on tabletops, nightstands, and the fully loaded shelves in the office.  Some are favorites from childhood. Nancy Drew, Mrs. Piggle Wiggle, Trixie Belden. Some are favorites that I read to my kids. The Big Hungry Bear, The Little Red Caboose, Quick As A Cricket. Some are favorites that I read when I was first a homemaker/mom like pretty much everything by Emilie Barnes & Liz Curtis Higgs.  Of course I've got an entire bookcase devoted to Readers Digest condensed books. They are beautiful and I've read every one of them. Some of them multiple times. Then there are all the books on creativity and leadership. Loads of those. Then the occasional random purchase at Barnes & Noble - some how-to books among those. Then of course the big beautiful cookbooks authored by the Food Network chefs. And then there's books-on-CD from christianaudio.com. But lately, I've been trying to find something to read that's different. True, inspiring stories of courage and hope. These are few and far between on my shelves because I've always tended to be a little (maybe a lot) cynical about these "feel good" "everyone's a winner" type of stories. Now it seems like I'm discovering new emotions I never knew existed. Just last week I watched a whole Oprah special and actually cried. Several times. While these feelings are uncomfortable, I feel like I'm being softened from the inside out for a purpose greater than I can understand right now. Part of this is a conspiracy on the part of Randy Shoulders and the ultra-huggy Fellowship North members. It's getting easier to feel and share authentic feelings and to give and receive hugs. Quite a different season of life but one that I'm realizing is a necessary part of my growth as a person. So to all you sentimental huggers out there, thanks for letting me join you. And just know that if you see me reading a book and crying I'm feeling fine, just fine.