John Steinbeck said, “Once you have lived in New York and it has become your home, no place else is good enough.” Oh, how right he was. I was lucky enough to call New York City home for the past few years, yet it feels as if those years lasted a lifetime. I truly believe there are certain spans we cross during our lives which, through experience, if not through time, cause us to age more than others. For me, this was one of those times. When I first came into the city, it was with the fresh, bright-eyed, shy wonder of one’s early twenties. When I left, it was with a steadier gaze and firmer feet, the weight of understanding that sombers the…
Posts tagged “growth”
There is a surrender that happens at the peak of life, and another at the edge of death, and the two do not weigh the same. There is an abdication when the first glimmer of light is seen on the horizon, and another when the last glimmer is about to fade, and the day between them is not the same. And how you spend the day matters. It is said, “To be pious in one’s youth is the style of prophets; in old age even the cruel wolf gives up his cruelty.” What matters most is what you choose to do when you have everything to lose. What you choose to give up when it means the most to do so. When you decide,…
In this entire universe, in this vastly exploding conglomeration of planets and galaxies and stars, there is one – only one – you. How beautiful is that? You are a wonder that has never existed before and will never exist again. You are a masterpiece. Each one of us is our own masterpiece. …So then, why do we spend so much time trying to become an imitation? Why do we spend so much time comparing ourselves to other people – how they look or dress or act or speak; constantly degrading ourselves through comparisons and wishes to change the shape of this or slim down that, to have his or her hair or body or face or hands or demeanor or everything other than…
There are questions to be asked (what, where, why) there are heart-knots to be unraveled (should I, can I, will I) there are puzzles to be deciphered (how will, who will, when will) – and there are answers to be given. But the truth – a truth I am still struggling to learn – is that we will never be able to hear the answers if, before they’re given, we already decide on answers of our own. If, at twilight, we come upon a vast forest and throw up our hands in defeat deciding it can never be crossed; if we turn to leave, not knowing – had we waited a moment longer for the sun to rise, we would’ve seen that there was…
