Embrace

Just as the moon waxes and wanes, so too do we. Our states are as sure to turn as the tide. Yet, when darkness encroaches, we don’t yield to its certain saturation. We exhaust ourselves trying to prevent the inevitable; we cling to moments of bliss as if they could be held any longer than the moment itself. But nature is unfazed by our subversive efforts. Darkness falls, and our light retreats into dormancy.

Rather than fight the unavoidable, we should embrace the seasonality of emotion. To feel fully is to live fully. Anger, sadness, and fear are not enemies of happiness–they are companions in the symphony of existence. Yet, many of us numb ourselves through emotional winters, waking only when the sun returns. In doing so, we live only half a life.

In the darkness, there is a richness waiting to be explored–a depth of feeling and emotion often overlooked. These moments are not burdens, but rather opportunities. Welcome all of experience into your heart, even that tinged with pain, because it is here that lies the other side of joy. Joy is not always light; sometimes, it is found in the courage to sit with the dark.