Other – aanokhi

“The End.” These two words appear at the end of every fairytale, letting us know that the story is over. But unlike books, life’s events can’t be closed off by the words “the end.” Do ends exist in life? Or is the book like time, continuous, with every minute, every moment, filling up pages of emotions? Does every occasion become a book, or do all of our adventures come together into one big album, shadowing our thoughts through chapters and chapters of memories? When we say something is “the end,” is it actually over? Or are words such as “goodbye” and “farewell” just placeholders for “next time?” What leads us to say goodbye to something? Are goodbyes the result of bad memories, changed emotions, or simply distance?

Sometimes, we’re not even sure ourselves, but that’s okay. It’s okay to wonder why. Sometimes, within our grievances, it’s even okay to cry. But the reality is that letting go is always difficult, yet holding on feels impossible. We constantly un-friend people from our Facebook accounts, erase pictures from our cameras, and delete contacts from our phones. However, we fail to remove the presence of memories from our mind. Maybe, we are aware, that life never gave us a “the end” option. Life arrived as an adventure, and we are the heart of its journey. There is no such thing as “the end,” because the closing of one door instantly signals the opening of another. Despite the opportunities that lay ahead of us, we tend to keep turning back to the door that has closed, keep knocking, and wishing for that door to re-open. However, we remain aware that on the other side, things have changed, and in order to advance, we must let go of the past, because yesterday has become history. And building a future from the past is like trying to chase the end of a rainbow; it only leaves you delusional. We live in our own fantasies, though we’re aware of our reality.

It’s time turn the page from the beginning of the story, and stop trying to write the last page. The blank pages in the middle make up the fruit of your story, and are the most important. Stop trying to reach a destination without fulfilling the journey. Live through the adventure; because once the quest is over, time will never bring that exact moment back again. Don’t put a “the end” at the end of the page, but instead a “to be continued.” Repair old relationships, and revive old memories. Retry bad experiences, and relive pleasant events. Right now is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again. Don’t let your life be defined by a blank page. Instead, write your words thoughtfully and passionately, for your story will become a special addition to the series of Life.

**“Being stuck in the past is like walking forward with your back facing the front. You’ll always miss out on what’s in front of you.”**

Keep Shining,

Inaara M. 🙂

Inayat Khan once said, “The source of happiness or unhappiness is all in man himself.” There is nobody around you that decides if you are happy or unhappy, because this decision is solely based upon YOU. Being aware of this, why choose to approach life in a negative manner? I have learned that it is important to advance through life with an optimistic attitude, for the small moments one enjoys account for the large amounts of happiness he experiences. When faced with an irritating situation, you shouldn’t anger yourself, but instead enjoy the change.

Therefore, this April, I challenge every one of you to dance in the rain. No, it doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to dance; it doesn’t matter if others around you are staring; it doesn’t matter how stupid you look. Lose yourself within the raindrops, and let your mind become a blank canvas, letting the rain paint your own original image. And when you feel the cold winds touch your skin, keep dancing. Sing along with the thunder, letting each roar add to your harmony. And don’t forget to pose when lightning strikes, for it’s only trying to give you a spotlight! Remember, this is YOUR dance, and nobody can perform it better than YOU. Rain hits everyone, but most people just open their umbrellas, hiding themselves from the raindrops. Those who forget their raincoats feel as if they’re targeted, victimized against the harsh winds. But why are they so concerned about protecting themselves from nature’s trajectory? After all, nobody can prevent a thunderstorm, just like nobody can prevent themselves from becoming tragedy’s next victim. One often forgets that it is not the situation that shapes a person, but their REACTION to the circumstance. Why not take advantage of these challenges, and utilize them as opportunities to grow and learn? So go outside, sing, dance, and let yourself go crazy. Befriend the rain, and remember that your smile can cause any thunderstorms to die down and leave behind a rainbow that will be shining just for you! ☔️🌈