If One Could Fly
Dear Diary,
Do you ever wonder how we look in the eyes of others? Do all the physical flaws in our minds barely exist to a stranger in passing? Are your biggest fears someone else’s deepest desires? The best thing about perspective is that it’s available for everyone, but it may not be interchangeable with others. Your perception of yourself triumphs over the perception others have of you. One could be everything someone aspires to be, but if they don’t acknowledge their own power, then it goes to waste. It’s amusing to me how strangers can sense the potential that we can’t feel or see in ourselves.
On my way home from my classes, I saw a small flock of birds trying to escape the storm that was approaching the land. This sight unlocked a memory with a woman I was once friends with. She possessed a beauty that may never be on the cover of a magazine, but best believe that she never went unnoticed. The sun rose upon her awakening. She was fascinated with the world and everything it had to offer, especially love. Infatuated with the idea of a Shakespeare romance. One could say that she never experienced the notions of love, but that would be incorrect. She had a family who cherished her birth. A father who named her from the heart, a mother who would die for her, and siblings who had her back no matter what. Love was crafted by the gods for her. She contained an aura that attracted many. Still, it wasn’t enough to fill the void inside her heart. She was ambitious and very intelligent, but she lived most of her life catering to everyone else’s needs and comforts while neglecting her own, and that trait would soon be her downfall if she hadn’t changed her ways. I always wondered why she couldn’t see what the rest of the world could.
It was springtime, and the air was crisp. I insisted that we should go to the park downtown and get some food at a place nearby. We laid our blankets on the floor and watched the sky as we caught up with each other's lives. As we were conversing, we saw a large gathering of birds flying, forming a ring around the sun. I couldn’t help but direct my attention to the birds, captivated by their movements of grace and harmony. Birds are probably the luckiest animals to exist in this world. Every day, they get to experience the world in a way that we humans are unable to. They sing at the most unconventional hours of the day, but somehow their presence doesn’t seem like a disturbance. Their song overlaps with the sounds of wind traveling through the air, car horns on the street, fresh raindrops hitting the concrete, footsteps of various paces, and many more sounds of wonder that the world contains.
The birds taught me that there will always be a place for me in this world, but I bear the responsibility of finding it. Just remember that if you’re too busy prioritizing the comfort of everyone else, you will never have the time to prosper in life. Regardless of what social media “preaches” to us, it truly takes a lifetime to fight our battles and find ourselves along the way. Some may argue that life is too short, and others claim that we have plenty of time in life. These seemingly contradictory messages share the same message:
Make the most out of it.
Making the most of your life isn’t just reserved for the happiest and luckiest days. Making the most of your life also entails learning from your mistakes, building boundaries, facing conflict, and learning how to embody your existence even though you’re not really sure where you belong in this world yet. We’ve all been in the same position as my friend, and some of us still are, but that’s okay. Sometimes the things we yearn for can be found within ourselves. My friend yearned for the love and admiration of others, but it took her a while to realize that the love she desperately sought was inside of her, waiting to be acknowledged.
It’s so easy to become addicted to the instant gratification that people give us, but once those people are gone, we are left with our own company. When this happens, we begin searching for an escape, but our shadow will always follow behind us, no matter where we hide. That’s why we must learn to embrace the darkest parts of us, because spending time in the dark will cause you to desire the light. A bird who doesn’t know how to use their wings is forced to leave the nest and learn on their own. The instinct to fly without practice is like having a dream without ambition. The lack of courage is the strongest barrier to living to our true potential.
From my thoughts to yours,
