02/05/2026
I watched Come See Me in the Good Light tonight. A documentary about the amazing poet Andrea Gibson and their wife Megan Falley. It is a glimpse into how the couple faced Andrea's cancer diagnosis, treatment, and the end of Andrea's life. Throughout you see how intuitive and connected Andrea is to their emotions and expressing them. Their poetry is a lifelong expression and ode to emotions and living. From coping with depression, coming out, finding love, and coping with heartbreak. Megan talks about her challenge to be present, recognizing and being scared of what happens when Andrea dies. In a scene prior to their last performance Andrea talks about how they don't ever fear their emotions but at that moment were afraid of the number of emotions they were feeling. After the performance, Andrea is crying and Megan hugs them and asks if the tears are tears of love. Andrea nods and leans into the embrace. Throughout the movie the role of talking about emotions and not being afraid of them is a core value of their family. When Andrea's ex's father dies and calls to say they don't think they can stay at the family house b/c of the grief. Andrea tells her just call everything you are experiencing love. That ability to be present through whatever you are feeling and to call it what it is is what we always work towards in therapy. Similarly, in a poem by Rumi called the Guest House the theme is to invite your emotions in good or bad. The feelings are there for a purpose and denying that emotion causes you to miss what the emotion is trying to teach you.
Fitting that as I watch the end, there is lightning outside and their last book of poetry is called You Better Be Lightning
Embrace every moment you have on this earth. Do what scares you, say how you feel, be who you are. You only have this one life. Live it to the fullest and never be afraid of your emotions, even if you feel outnumbered.