Hearts Grow Bigger

I happened to meet a painter yesterday.  Kind of guy who like immediately.  Kind of guy you start sharing stories with as if you have known him forever. 

In the first minute of our conversation, he says that he quit smoking 34 years ago.  Quit one time and never went back.  It was a good thing, too, because he had to have heart surgery two years ago and the surgeon told him that if he had been smoking all that time, he never would have survived the surgery. 

I was about to ask him more questions about this when he told me that people say that after any heart surgery the heart grows bigger figuratively.  He said he was the proof in the pudding.  He said, he never really thought of himself as a jerk, but he definitely is not one now.  He cries about once a week and an equal amount of tears of joy and tears of sorrow.  Prior, he maybe cried a handful of times in his life. 

If he sees someone struggling, he feels compelled to help.  Overall, he pays more attention to the world and things affect him more deeply.  His relationships are deeper and he is more empathetic. He cried during commercials at the Superbowl.  He also laughs more and looks for more opportunities to find joy in the daily hum drum of life. 

It really is true.  Love is everywhere.  Everyone has a story to tell.  You can learn something new every day. 

And, hearts can grow bigger.  I doubt there is any scientific data to validate this, but, this guy believes it and so, he made a choice.  He decided his heart was going to grow bigger.  And the world is better. 

The good news for all of us is that we don't have to wait to have heart surgery in order for our hearts to grow bigger.  It happened to me and my husband when we became grandparents.  It can happen to anyone.  Just make a decision that your heart is going to grow bigger. 

And, while you are making a choice to grow a bigger heart, make sure it is opening more as well. 

Hearts a plenty !