Change

Change.

The one thing capable of scaring the fuck out of any person.

This one’s a common battle for me these days. When you take a step back and try to rationalise with all the thoughts going through your mind, you realise how ridiculous it is. You remember that the universe is built upon change. Days go by, seasons change, people are brought into and taken from this world every second, planets continuously orbit, air moves, people change…I could go on and on. It’s all around us.

And yet the majority of us want to stay still. Stay where you are, keep doing what you do, remain satisfied with what you have. Why? Because everything’s fine. Sure, you don’t live the perfect life, but then again who does? You’ve got a job. It may not be your dream job, but it pays the bills. You’ve got a family. You’ve got friends. You’re happy where you are. At least you feel that way. Nothing needs to change. The risk that comes with change is too great, right? Might as well stay put.

Wait a second though - how can you know and say that things are fine the way they are and that you’re happy where you are, without trying something else? Have you really been around, seen all that’s on offer?

Open your eyes and take a look around you. You know the successful people, the dreamers who made it by persevering through what was perhaps deemed impossible? What do they have that you don’t?

I think I know the answer to this one. I think it’s actually something you have that they don’t which is stopping you from being like them, keeping you from your dreams.

It’s the fear of stepping out of your comfort zone. Fear of the unknown.

You might think at this point that I sound like I’ve got it all figured out, and that I’m not like you. Or perhaps you think I have no idea what I’m on about :)

Actually, we’re on the same team, fighting the same fight. I have a decision pending, and regardless of what I decide I am about to embark on a new journey, a new chapter of my life. And I have no fucking clue what I want to do. My heart says one thing, my mind says another, friends and family another. I’m happy with the way things are, and I really wish I didn’t have to make this decision right now. In other words, I don’t want to step out of this comfort zone I’ve created for myself over the years. But sometimes, you just hear change calling out for you. You feel it. Sometimes, you just need to start listening, to open up your heart to new possibilities…

This piece is a reflection of some of my inner dialogue, and I hope those of you reading this can relate. At the very worst though, I will use this as a reminder to myself of how ridiculous our resistance against change is, and how people who are happy to step out of their comfort zone and take risks are the true winners of this game we call life.

So here’s a toast to the uncertainties that lie ahead and the beauty of life, which is dependent upon the unknown, the unforeseen, the untold. Here’s a toast to change, to the new experiences, friendships and memories that are yet to be made and engraved in our hearts and minds forever.

PROVEHITO IN ALTUM
Daniel

                                                                                                                                                                                   

Unknown

Like a thunderstorm on the eve of an ever so sunny day
A death that strikes on the happiest day of your life
Unexpected. Inexplicable. Destructive.

A product of our own imagination, misguided
A swing so swift and subtle you’d never know you’ve been struck in the first place
And all you’re left with are scars.

Scars that appear to have come from nowhere,
Scars that tie you down and pull you away from your dreams.

You feel alone,
As if no one or nothing can help you find the answers.
Lost.

Where do you go from there?

Reach out, reconnect with the universe.
The world has so much to offer.

The answers are all around us,
We just need to know where to look.

Seek help.

We’re all warriors, battling against the challenges of life
Sometimes we just need someone to give us a hand,
A sympathetic ear.

Perhaps some things stay the same, but we grow stronger every day
We learn to adapt, we learn to survive
We’re here, fighting, still standing strong

And you know what, that in itself is worth celebrating.
Each and every single day.

Hello World

Hello world. Most of you probably have no clue who I am, where I'm from, or what I do for a living. And you probably don't need to. I'm probably not much different than those of you who are reading this. I'm just one of - God knows how many billion we are now - people on this planet - living, learning and trying to make sense of it all as I go along. I've always liked writing, though the inspiration to do so can be hard to find at times.

I've decided today, after much contemplation, to start a blog and share some of my thoughts with you. I was previously fairly active on deviantArt, an online community of artists of all backgrounds, and received some positive feedback.

Seeing people relate to what I thought, felt and then put into words and being told that what I wrote helped those people through some extremely tough situations was both the greatest and most rewarding feeling ever. This is the biggest motivation for me. So, starting today I will be sharing some of my literature with you along with some general thoughts and updates if you'll have me.

Please do let me know what you think!

Cheers,
Daniel