Big Bird in China

I was talking with a client recently and they talked about how whenever they think about caring for themselves, it makes them tear up. It’s a really complicated emotion because it isn’t sadness, it isn’t joy, it’s the feeling you get when you encounter someone you haven’t seen in a long time and you miss so much that you just burst out in tears when you see them. 

This reminded me of a powerful example of unconditional love I once witnessed while watching a documentary called “I Am Big Bird’ following the career of Caroll Spinney (yes, the puppeteer from Sesame Street.) In the documentary he goes to China and films with this young Chinese girl that speaks very little English. Even though he was speaking through a puppet suit, and she couldn’t communicate, there was an abundance of love they shared for one another. He opened up his heart and poured love into her and she did the same. 

When they were reunited 30 years later, they instantly fell into each other’s arms and broke down crying because they missed each other so much. That innocent, unconditional love that we all crave was reunited in their embrace. 

So similarly, there is a part of us that has an endless amount of love to give (Big Bird), we were all born with it, but as we grew older we developed layers in order to keep this part safe. Barriers that protect us from pain and rejection. As the layers grow, the connection to our inner voice becomes muffled. We mistakenly think we can fill this void externally with status, wealth, or relationships, but no one can match the vastness and overwhelming sensation of love that is sourced from within. 

Every now and again when we get a clear signal from this part that loves us exactly as we are and for no other reason than being human, we become overwhelmed with emotion because it is all we have ever wanted and miss it so very much. To truly love ourselves, just as we are, to truly love another just as they are, for no other reason than their inherently lovability, becomes one of the greatest gifts we can offer one another.