Paradoxes!

One of the most beautiful things in life,

Is when two opposites come side by side.

When a pinch of grief is mixed in a pint of joy,

Why do we cry when our heart is filled with joy?

Indescribable beauty often breaks our heart,

And a surge of pure love can rip us apart!

And when grief or anger begin to grow,

Know that, it’s love that has nowhere to go!

It’s the little things that make up the lion’s share.

And the ones that wound us are the very ones that care.

Our greatest power lies in our deepest fears,

And it takes a lot of courage to shed some tears!

Often a lot is said when nothing is said.

And at times a lot is said and nothing is meant!

From rock bottoms we can emerge a lot more sane

Failures are often teachers, and losses often gain.

Ephemeral moments often leave impressions that last.

And you can experience eternity within a second’s grasp.

The most fulfilling in life are the moments when,

Joy meets sorrow and pleasure meets pain!

-Shamika

14/05/2024

One of the things that both fascinates and puzzles me about life is the occurrences of paradoxes. Some of the most fulfilling moments in life have been the ones where I've experiences joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain together, at the same moment and embrace them.

Some of the notable ones for me have been the paradox that in the long run, it is the little things that matter the most. Small act of kindness, little gestures of love can warm our hearts. A gentle loving gaze from someone can make us feel worthy and loved. While little acts that convey contempt can sting the most. Small things said or done or small acts not said or not done when they should have, can linger in our minds for the longest time. Also. the very people who love us have the capacity to hurt us. We get our wounds from the very people that we get our quotas of love filled from too.

Another beautiful paradox is that of time. Eternity can be felt in a moment and fleeting moments leave lasting impressions.

This one is my favourite and something I wish I learnt earlier. Allow me to quote Brene Brown who has been my go to person to listen to when self doubt surrounds me. She says "vulnerability is not weakness, it is our greatest measure of courage." This quote has changed me so profoundly. My life began to shift when I understood and decided that this is how I want to live my life. My relationships improved, I connected deeper with people and with life and existence. But that also means risking failures and disappointments.

I am also learning that deep intimacy cannot come without the hard conversations. We can truly have intimacy with another soul when we are brave enough to be seen with all our imperfections and flaws and to see and embrace the other person with theirs.

I believe these paradoxes are what make life even more meaningful. The chinese concept of YIN YANG symbolises the harmony of these supposed paradoxes to make a balanced whole.