a note to you, and myself.
An old acquaintance of mine once told me that there are only three things a person requires in order to live a full and worthwhile life: love, passion and a heart. All other aspects, whilst some may still be of importance to you, are inessential, not absolutely necessary for complete happiness. Breezing across this statement, you may simply accept it and question no more; a child gliding over the surface of the ocean, too afraid yet to dive deeply down under. However, beneath the exterior of this brief piece of prose exists a solution, a simple panacea for all of life’s hardships.
Allow me to direct your insight towards the first word in this triad of fulfilment: love. A revelation occured to me somewhat recently that this phrase did not suggest a lover, as my erstwhile thoughts deemed to be true. I was incorrect. For a monumental period of time I felt incomplete, needing someone to love; someone to hold for me to properly exist. I searched for this for a long time. Despite being unhappy with other aspects of myself which could easily be fixed I disregarded them, instead focusing on the hope that someone else would come along and fix everything for me. Although I possessed all of the components needed to fashion myself a truly happy, proper existence, still I searched for the one spare part which, despite fitting, I didn’t quite need. You may be questioning what I mean by a “proper” existence, and I would describe it to you efficiently if I only had the means - as of yet the English language has not progressed far enough to convey every feeling and emotion perfectly with no more than a cogent combination of the same 26 letters.The closest I can come to describing this is a feeling of complete contention coupled with a delicate wholeness and sense of well-being.
Concluding my digression, you do not require a lover, you simply require a love - for something, or somewhere. I advise you not to develop a love for a fleeting presence of feeling, but for something you can see, touch and hear whenever you desire. If you fall in love with a place, travel there often. Take photographs, document your stay, remind yourself of the good times you spent there. If you fall in love with a piece of music then spend your time listening to it, analysing it, learning the mastery of playing it on your favourite instrument. If you do want someone to fall in love with, firstly make sure that someone is yourself. Fall in love with your own skin and bones; the lines on your face; the curve of your smile. Build a home out of the four walls of your chest and cherish living there. Embrace every aspect of your being as you are now, as you were before and as you wish to become. Don’t strive to be “perfect” - all art is flawed, however imperfections only exist if you see them as such.
Secondly, you need passion. Find the thing that puts you in a good mood for the rest of the day if you so happen to wake up thinking about it. Immerse yourself in something you could write about for hours on end and never run out of things to say. The jobs people do best are usually the ones in which the work does not actually seem like work itself. No one is talentless, experience everything until you find that which you can express your inner feelings through. There’s a fire of passion always burning in your heart; never forget to feed those flames.
Lastly, you need a heart, both literally and in the metaphorical sense. Be the ideal person you wish everyone else could be whenever you scorn the whole of existence when something doesn’t go your way. Show both empathy and sympathy towards all, treating them as if they were yourself, giving those who deserve it a second chance. We all make errors and most mistakes are meant to happen - learn from them and do not be disheartened. Don’t be afraid to show vulnerability. The world stops for no man, woman or child and thus every moment only truly exists as it is experienced by those involved, so have a heart for people and do not treat them harshly based on what you’ve heard others say; chances are it didn’t happen like that.
I am a hypocrite of my own writing, having existed in such an improper manner where all time felt rushed and my bones felt brittle and my body as if it were caving in. Don’t let it. Don’t allow the home you’ve worked so hard to build be blown away with the passing storm of momentary sorrow.
See each mirror as a window. Reflect in yourself what you wish to see in the world. Be what you want the world to achieve together. Be happy.
Adam James Pollock, February 2016.
