Your Space Is Empty

Early on in my life I studied the Persian language and culture.  During my language studies I learned that different cultures communicate in very different ways.  For instance, the Russian language is a very specific language that has different translations based on different conditions for each action.  Spanish incorporates a lot of intense feeling in the words used based on cultural biases.  In any case, languages are used to communicate information, ideas, and feelings.

The concept of missing someone who has departed can sometimes be a difficult concept to communicate.  But, I believe the Persian language captures the feeling the best.  They say "Jah-yeh-t khah-lee-eh"... it means "Your space is empty."

Near the beginning of our marriage, my wife and I incorporated this into our expressions to each other about how we felt when we were apart.  We still use this expression, even to this day, because when one of us departs, it leaves a gap in our lives that can only be filled by the other person.  It is VERY important to remember during the trip that the hole in my heart can only be filled by the other person.  Our post on commitment addresses this pretty well.

Regardless of what you do, the pain and emptiness of time apart is very real.  There are many ways to deal with it that we will likely cover in future posts.  But, remembering and rehearsing how the other person fills that space and why we complete each other sets the anticipation looking forward to reuniting.  Discovering how you've each grown during your time away gives us another way to grow deeper in our relationship upon our return.

Even though being separated has created an empty space in our hearts, we don't have to let that emptiness consume us.  It is only empty until the reunion!