Perhaps it would be better for us to just speak.
Let’s just talk. Okay?
I am no smarter or better or anything like that.
No, I think it would be better for you and I to talk – just like people do.
Okay?
There are good things to see in this world. I can promise you this.
There are wild things too, and amazing things and things that you never thought were possible.
Trust me. You are going to see this.
All of this is out there.
There will be things to see that will be so beautiful that you will shake your head in disbelief.
You might even ask yourself, “Is this real?”
You are going to see more than you can possibly imagine.
I promise you this.
There will be things that are so beautiful and unbelievable and they will bring a tear to your eye.
You are going to experience moments that will put a smile on your face. And you will remember these things for the rest of your life. The good, the bad and the ugly.
All of this.
There are going to be times and places or moments that will be beyond belief to you, like an unforgettable sunrise on the beach or a moment when the sun goes down over the city. Your heart is full and all is perfect.
This is going to happen.
You are going to find yourself in places where it seems as if you’ve been there your entire life, yet you’ve never been there before – not even in your dreams.
But no one really talks like this.
No one tells you that you are going to experience something so pure and satisfying that your heart will be overwhelmed.
There are going to be moments that are surreal or so incredible, poignant and meaningful. Yes, rest assured, these moments can and will happen.
Times like this can change our ways. They can be pivotal or perhaps even directional.
There will be eye-opening events that are impactful enough to point you at the sky.
You are going to experience the unthinkable.
You can bet on this. And bet heavy too.
Bet on this with all that you have.
Life is full of surprises.
I am not here to tell you that I know more than you. This is not to say what you do or don’t know. I am not here to say “you’re just a kid” or that I know anything more (or less) than you or anyone else for that matter.
Instead, I am here to both illustrate and orchestrate a special connection between us. We already have too many differences in the world. But this is life and as different as our lives can be, circumstances and situations do not have to imply the worst between us.
Also, I understand that as beautiful as this world can be, there are times when life can be an ugly place.
I get it.
There are times when our head is aching and our hearts are heavy.
Our thoughts are all over the place. We can’t calm down. We can’t relax.
Or maybe we can’t get rid of the pain.
This is going to happen.
No one escapes life without a scratch (or two).
I’ll tell you this as honestly as I can.
When you can’t relax or calm down or get comfortable or rest or sleep, it’s easy to forget that you’re a good person.
I know there will be disappointments. And I wish this was avoidable – but it’s not.
Sometimes, maybe heartbreak is avoidable. But due to our insecurity or as a result of our fear-based worries, we self-destruct or sabotage because while this might not create the desired outcome, at least we can understand why we are afraid and at least the pains make sense. In a way, the reason behind our self-destruction is because at least we can control the unknown future by subconsciously sinking it – so are fears can become real or at least validated and justified.
Perhaps we spend so much time on our wishes and hopes that we fail to look around. We allow for a certain emotional blindness to take place; hence, we fail to see the truths or the signs or the red flags along the way, which are screaming at us, louder than ever, or waving like a caution flag to tell us to go the other way.
There will be days when hopes are shattered. Dreams will fall apart. There will be letdowns and bouts or moments of realization that take our breath away – and this will feel like you were punched in the chest.
I wish this was avoidable too.
But unfortunately, no.
This will happen.
We all know this. We know these things happen.
Yet, no one talks about it.
No one explains this either.
I suppose we are all out here in uncharted territories and whether we’ve left a trail behind us to help us remember how to get back, or if life is just a maze, we are all destined to be lost. Just know this is not personal.
No, this is only life unfolding.
Nothing else.
This has nothing to do with age.
This is a life thing, not a kid or an adult thing.
You are going to experience all of this. As you open up to the world or find yourself at the beginning of a new chapter or when you face a new challenge or encounter a new opportunity, just know that nothing can kill you forever – and somehow, you are going to sew and weave and meander through life like a stream that cuts through a pasture.
In fact, I want you to picture this.
Close your eyes.
See it –
The stream is you.
This is an embodiment of your life.
There will be moments when all is calm or slow moving and other times when the waters are more rapid or even chaotic. You are the stream – and the waters are your bloodline.
This is all being pushed by the force of your heartbeat.
You are going to move and eventually, you are going to arrive where the rivers meet the sea.
Along the way, you will experience different sights and landscapes and changes.
You will be split down the middle and there will be different sights on either side of you. You will see the world with trees on one side of you and fields on the other.
Maybe you’ll pass through cities or farmlands.
Who knows where your stream will lead you.
You are going to go through different climates and different seasons. You will see the sun come up and go down. You will notice the different phases of the moon. You will notice how life is cyclical – just like the seasons are the times we spin around the sun.
You are going to see rainfall and storms that will appear and then disappear. No matter how hard the rain was, the sun will return to shine again – or despite the cold times or the uncomfortable winters, just know that the sun will return warmth to the land and thaw the frost or dry the tears when heaven weeps.
We are going to see unbelievable things and live through unbelievable moments.
This is guaranteed.
And love?
We are going to see all sides of this. We are going to understand why love is the bravest act of all kinds. We will know why people fear their love because love can either create or build or destroy and dismantle us down to the bone.
I know this.
Love will hurt. At the same time, there is nothing that will rescue you like the truth of someone’s love – or to find your true love, or even if only for a short while or even if you experience this in a temporary way – just know that there are people who never find this at all.
There are people who will never know what love means throughout their entire life, let alone for a second or a minute or for any other short burst of time.
There are words, like always and forever.
These words are true.
And so is the word never.
Never can be true as well because there is truth that yesterday will never come back.
Even if we wish for this with all of our hearts – today is a new day and tomorrow comes without warning.
Better yet, and often enough, we will find that there is no crystal ball. So take the risk.
But sometimes, it might seem as if there is no future.
But there is.
All this means is time keeps moving.
This is only the page turning from one to the next.
This is only a new chapter.
The old one is gone. So are the topics that took place.
I’ll tell you this now and with no other way to say it; sometimes, life is a tough pill to swallow. Sometimes the unchangeable truths are tough and painful.
Sometimes, pain hurts and all else is unthinkable.
But that’s okay.
No one can break my heart forever.
I can heal.
I can adapt and improve and if I keep my eyes open long enough or if I choose to look carefully, or deep enough, I am sure that I will find a moment or a place or a sight, like the sunset or perhaps I will find a friendly voice or a loving face to meet me where I’m at.
It’s okay to say goodbye to what was.
I don’t say this is easy.
I only say that it’s okay to realize or accept “what is.”
This way you can find yourself on a better path that will lead your towards “What will be.”
Or, what should be . . .
No one talks about this.
Everyone is quick to say how great life is or how things will get better.
Or turn that frown upside down.
Okay. Fine.
But let’s be clear.
When your heart aches or your sad and tired or when the letdowns or the disappointments kick your ass to the point where it’s too hard to get back – there is nothing you can do but feel what you feel.
Cry if you have to.
Learn what you can.
But rest assured, you are the stream.
This is your journey until your river meets the sea.
The Written Addiction 