You know, the things we tolerate once can easily become the things we tolerate twice, and before you know it, you've got a pattern on your hands. If you don’t set clear boundaries, you’re basically teaching both yourself and others that certain behaviours are acceptable, even when they make you uncomfortable or outright hurt you. Every time you let something slide that goes against your values or well-being, you’re cracking the door open for it to happen again. Setting boundaries isn't just about being tough—it's about honouring yourself. It’s about respect for you and your own needs.
Now, let’s talk about learning. The only person who's truly educated is the one who’s figured out how to learn and how to change. Knowledge isn’t a static thing; it’s a dance, a process. If we really value independence, and if we find the one-size-fits-all approach to knowledge and values a little stifling, then maybe we need to create spaces for learning that encourage individuality, self-direction, and curiosity. After all, life isn’t a test—it’s an exploration.
And speaking of exploration, creativity thrives in the unknown. There’s no rubric for the creative process, no checklist to mark off when you’re being "creative enough." The very essence of being creative is its novelty—its refusal to conform to standards that don't exist yet. It’s about finding your own voice, even when it feels like no one else is listening.
Experience, at least for me, is the ultimate authority. My own lived experience is the gold standard—everything else is secondary. Sure, theories, studies, and sacred texts have their place, but nothing beats what I have lived through and discovered about myself. And that’s not to say my experience is infallible—far from it. It’s just that it’s the one thing I can return to, again and again, to keep refining my understanding of the truth. Because the truth, as it turns out, is a moving target—it grows with us.
And in this messy, beautiful process of growing and becoming, emotional attachment is a fundamental part of it. We all need connection; it’s wired into us, whether we’re the anxious type, the avoidant type, or the secure type—most of us are a blend of them all. Our relationships shape us, and vice versa. It's an ongoing dance, constantly shifting.
As I reflect on what I call the “good life,” I can’t help but feel that words like “happy” or “blissful” don’t quite capture it. Sure, we experience those moments, but the good life is more about the deep, enriching process of becoming more of who you are. It’s challenging, it’s rewarding, and it’s meaningful. It’s a life for the brave-hearted, because becoming yourself fully requires a lot of courage and a willingness to dive headfirst into the messy, wonderful stream of life.
We can’t change until we’ve fully accepted where we’re at. Change isn’t something that happens by force—it sneaks up on you, almost unnoticed, once you stop resisting what is. It’s funny, but the more I accept myself as I am—imperfect, messy, and not always living up to my own standards—the easier it becomes to grow. It's paradoxical, isn’t it? That the secret to change is often found in the deep acceptance of ourselves, just as we are.
So here’s to the ongoing adventure of being human—full of imperfections, growth, and the courage to show up, learn, and evolve. Life’s messy, but it’s ours. And that’s what makes it beautiful.
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