Shadows can be lifesaving, especially from the harshness of the sun. It provides us with the opportunity to take our breath and regain strength before we can continue with our journey. It acts as a shield against the brightness of the world around us, a brightness that sometimes tends to blind us, making us want to hide in the coolness of the overcasting grey. Shadows may welcome us with arms wide open, promise us the luxury of rest, stillness, and peace.
Shadows can be misleading
However, shadows can be misleading. Behind the apparent security and stability lies the entrapment of not moving forward, not taking chances, becoming so frightened of the reality beyond the grey borders that we do not dare step outside the comforting circle again. In itself it becomes our blind spot, making us miss the opportunities, the excitement, the pain, the challenges, the misfortune, the delight, and so many more, all of which is part of life – this life, the one we are living right now.
Emerging from the shadows
In the past few weeks I have come to challenge the reason for my existence. This question is nothing new, it has been asked for many centuries and may very well be asked for many more. But for now, it belongs to me, it is mine to ask, mine to examine, and mine to answer. Whether or not I come to a definite conclusion, I have come to realize that the question itself cannot keep me hiding in the shadows. No, I can only answer it while venturing out into the sun, crossing the desert, enduring the harshness of the elements around me, facing the challenges of life itself, confronting and debating different philosophies, opinions, and attitudes of others.
I have mentioned in other writings of mine that my purpose may not be one thing that guides me through life, it may very well be defined in the everyday actions that I take, in how I react to life, how I approach life, what I mean to others who cross my path. Sometimes I can cope with that thought, but other times I have a yearning for more, to reach out, to care, to guide. I have a need to know that what I do is worth something to someone. But in this process of making a difference I forget that in the end the whole process has to be meaningful to me. And more so, I have to find meaning within myself.
Go out and live!
In the end, it does not matter why I am here, because I may die without knowing the answer. What matters is what I do with my time. I can roll over and play dead or I can go out with a bang! I choose the latter. As long as I breathe and am healthy I will pursue my journey. I will ask questions, I will debate and analyze. I will reach highs and I will hit lows. However, one thing I have learned is that life is not about being constantly on a high. More important is how to regroup yourself after hitting a low, and that is what makes my coaching work worthwhile. To walk the road with clients, to discover their strengths, to discard limiting beliefs and to pursue life. It is not about hiding in the shadows, staying in the zone of comfort, but to step out, take calculated risks and live. Life throws many balls at us, but I have the bat in the hand, I determine how I will react. I can lay down the bat, or I can stand up, take it firmly, and give it my best. The shadows may always be welcome, but never out welcome your stay.
