We carry the echoes of those who came before us — their struggles, their joys, their unfinished stories — woven into the fabric of our own, shaping who we are until we choose to awaken, unravel, and reweave the threads with intention and grace.
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My parents were never able to provide the emotional support or conscious partnership each needed from the other. They valued different things and spoke in different love languages, and, in my view, they were never able to express these unmet needs. They had children, so they pushed through and made it work as best they could. They came from a different generation and culture — one defined by struggle, endurance, perseverance, self-sacrifice, and, unfortunately, a quiet, deep-seated desperation.
It took me years to piece together the fragments of turmoil I had unconsciously internalized. I carried these burdens as truth — until I didn’t. There was blame, until there wasn’t. There was guilt, now gone. There was shame, and now, far less. We all eventually reach a point of balance — our spiritual and existential center.
When my parents separated, I began to see them as individuals. It was a revelation. I finally understood some of their childhood struggles and connected a few of the dots in their stories. This insight illuminated their personal — and consequently, relational — difficulties. They may have lacked the tools we have today and, perhaps more importantly, the ability to hold space for each other. These are not excuses but reasons for empathy. Live, learn, and listen.
Our reality demands that we take responsibility for our own story. It is the only way to move beyond the noise and find the ease, grace, and joy that lie beneath the surface. This is awareness. This is conscious sensitivity. It’s about opening our hearts and our eyes.
Each of us is a needle — the stylus on the vinyl record of life. This divine design transmits our music into the world. There will be scratches, skips, repetitions, and fleeting distortions, but the song always continues. It is empowering to know that nothing lasts forever and that what we take from this journey are the vibrations of our unique music.
Owning your story means acknowledging and accepting what was then, taking full responsibility for ourselves now, and aspiring to heal, adapt, and improve. Fueling this process with awareness and gratitude amplifies the vibrancy, vividness, and volume of your life’s song. To embrace gratitude is to honor all those who helped shape it.
Love your life.
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“Sensations” from Wander