Dear Hearts,
Welcome back to the journey.
Today, I want us to start with an unfiltered truth: life is hard. Some fight the physicality of that truth, while others fight the emotional weight of it, and some face an all-consuming storm of both. Yes, life is indeed hard, and it can, in its unquestionable power, eradicate those who are unable to swim through its devastating waves. Some survive by consistently trying to stay adrift, while others simply let go and let the waters carry them to the darkness that lies below. But there are some who master the art of riding the waves; the mythical gods of our time, seemingly unsinkable, who walk upon the waters of life in the sunlight of a world that, to those within the depths, seems almost seraphic. Today, we are here to understand how we, too, can find ourselves in the light as opposed to the dark.
In recent times, I have experienced and witnessed the loss of many a beautiful heart to the man-made toxins that inhabit our human experience. These toxins can come in many forms, but their effects can be devastating to both the physical vessel we inhabit and the spirit that lives within it. Harm to the body can, in many instances, be remedied, but the wounds of the mind can be far more difficult to heal. I have seen these beautiful hearts be carried away by the waters, from their once celestial place atop the waves, down into the darkness that lies beyond the dark, and it has pained me deeply. But it has also reaffirmed something invaluable to me: that life is ephemeral in its duality. In its beauty and ugliness, in its abundance and loss, in its transcendence and its entrapment. Yet, within that duality lies a power governed by us, as only we can govern it. The key resides in the fires of life we choose to stoke, fires that can either consume us or simply add a desirable warmth.
It is my understanding that the results of everyday decisions, made with a love and value for the self, are what save us from drowning. Everyday decisions are like pockets of oxygen that allow us to breathe as we navigate the complex waters of life. There are those who simply do not pay attention to their everyday choices, and then there are those who are awakened to them.
An everyday decision that depreciates the value of your life over time can be something as simple as choosing to sit down in front of the television every morning, straight after getting out of bed, consuming the horrors of the news as the first source of sustenance you give to your mind. This is as opposed to allowing your mind to soak in the value of the morning calm, listening to an audio narration or podcast that helps awaken your mind to the infinitely positive outcomes life can hold, or simply breathing in the fresh air from your garden while enjoying your morning beverage.
How we start our day, and every decision we make throughout it, compounds over time, shaping the lives we lead and the people we become. These choices can determine whether we find ourselves riding atop the waves or simply adrift, unawakened and meandering. Life is hard, but how we look at our own respective lives, the areas within them to which we give our focus, and the plants we choose to nurture are what will ultimately bring our gardens to bloom. Everyday decisions that stem from an appreciation of the self, a love for the self, an empathy for the self, and a kindness towards the self are what help keep us from making choices that allow us to be carried away by the tumultuous waters of life.
In closing, every moment is vital. Every single moment of life we are given, regardless of circumstance, is a privilege when we recognise the value in ourselves. An unshakable mind and an infinite well of self-love are not merely beautiful aspirations; they are foundations upon which we build a life rooted in self-worth, resilience, and the courage to meet whatever circumstances may come our way. To cultivate an unshakable mind is to learn to stand firmly in who we are, even when the world around us threatens to pull us away from ourselves. To nurture an infinite well of self-love is to understand that our worth is not something we must continually earn, but something we must learn to honour, protect, and carry with us through every season of life.
If you do one thing today for your betterment, I ask that you do this: let the choices you make come from an understanding, a valuing, and a loving of yourself. Let them be guided by a mind you have worked to strengthen and a love for yourself that you continue to deepen, even when life makes it difficult. So that we, together, my dearest Heart, may sail atop these sunlit waters, as laughter fills the air and the wind brushes gently against our skin. May you always make choices that bring you to the surface.
love always,
Avastavé by Dmitri Ruwan
Listen to the audio narration of this article here.
