Heart of a Butterfly, Skin like a Rhinoceros

Kicking back last night on the sofa with my honey, we hashed out some challenges that had recently reared their ugly little heads.  My hands were flying all over, and his remained in their church roof pose, the one where the tips of the fingers on each hand are steepled together.  It makes him look wise and when he looks wise I think, ok, better listen to this. 

It's not that he's always right, but he's a very thoughtful fella and he comes up with perspectives that have never tipped my horizon.  We had a decision to make and plenty of time in which to do so, but my temperament can be a little premature in its expression, (that's a nice way to say I've had a tendency to blurt and later wish I hadn't) and we were getting a head start on the matter.  He can be every bit as irreverent and hilarious as I can about anything (behind closed doors, very little is off limits) and in no time he had me chuckling and wagging a finger as if to say, "ooh, you SO baad".  It helps, this way of laughing, it helps me and I believe others too, in navigating the uglier aspects of life, to just remember some simple truths:  we're not perfect, we do our best, we try not to hurt anyone but people will be hurt anyway, forgiveness must be swift and sincere, and, above all, he says, keep your heart beating with the beauty of a butterfly, and remember to keep your hide tough.