An open heart

We are often reminded to keep an open mind. That statement proposes that we remain receptive to ideas other than the ones we have already formulated. We know it is effective when we hear ourselves saying, "I never thought about it like that" or "That could be the solution to my problem." These are activities associated with the brain. When you keep an open heart, you are remaining receptive to loving and caring for others. I can think of many people who have an open heart. They just seem to have a way of connecting that can't be described with words. That's the beauty of an open heart. You know it is there based on how you feel in the presence of that other person. You feel safe, nurtured, joyful. They are tapping into that part of you that was present the day you were born. That part of you that was untouched by fear, doubt, and disappointment at the moment you came into this world. The presence of an open heart clearly preceded that of an open mind which required the use and understanding of words to function. How are you conscious of the open heart that is yours to express? Is it fully open, slightly ajar, or slammed shut? What would it take to open it fully and what would your life look like when that occurs?