The Journey of Becoming

 

: Life’s Lessons in Plain English

Denzil Jayasinghe
·

At twenty, life stretches out ahead like an uncharted path. We’re shaped by our upbringing – whether it was a nurturing garden or a rocky terrain – and our dreams seem distant, like a pattern beyond reach. But as we grow older, we discover that we wield more agency than we once believed. Life isn’t merely a series of events that happen to us; it’s also about the choices we make and how we navigate the twists and turns.

  1. Travel and Transformation

Remember that big trip you took? The one where you stepped onto foreign soil, tasted exotic flavors, and stumbled upon hidden alleyways? That journey wasn’t just about ticking off destinations; it was about unraveling yourself. You learned a new language or two, absorbed diverse cultures, and returned home not as the same person who left. You were a change agent, adapting to each sunrise and sunset, and in the process, you became an entirely new canvas.

2. Betting on Yourself

Life occasionally feels like a high-stakes poker game. As you get older,. in your thirties and forties, you faced pivotal moments – crossroads where you could fold or go all-in. Maybe you risked it all on a new venture, a career change, or a leap of faith. And guess what? Sometimes the dice rolled in your favour. You discovered that bravery and belief in yourself can yield dividends beyond imagination. The jackpot wasn’t just financial; it was a jackpot of self-discovery.

3. The Symphony of Habits

Health isn’t a mundane checklist; it’s a symphony. You learned that eating well, moving your body, and catching those elusive Z’s weren’t chores – they were notes in your life’s melody. Suddenly, you realised you weren’t a fragile sapling; you were an oak tree with roots that reached deep into resilience. You became the curator of your well-being, tweaking the tempo of your days to compose a healthier, more vibrant existence.

4. Love’s Multifaceted Equation

Love – the cosmic riddle. You’ve danced in its moonlight, stumbled in its shadows. Physical attraction? Sure, it’s the spark. But real love? That could be a jackpot; It’s the shared laughter over late-night conversations, the way your minds sync like harmonious chords. You learned that love isn’t just chemistry; it’s compatibility – the way your souls hum in unison, even when the world sings a different tune.

5. Comrades on the Journey

Life isn’t a solo act; it’s a symposium of souls. Along the winding road, you met fellow travellers – kindred spirits who understood your quirks, your dreams, your midnight fears. Together, you scaled peaks, weathered storms, and celebrated victories. These friends weren’t just companions; they were lifelines. They taught you that friendship isn’t about proximity; it’s about shared maps of scars and whispered secrets.

6. The Fragile Hourglass

Loss etches its mark on every heart. You’ve bid farewell to loved ones, their absence echoing like a haunting melody. In those moments, you glimpsed life’s fragility – the sand slipping through the hourglass. Yet, loss sharpened your senses. Suddenly, the sun’s warmth felt like a benediction, laughter like a rare gem, and raindrops on leaves like a symphony of renewal.

7. Crafting Self-Respect

Challenges aren’t roadblocks; they’re stepping stones. You faced forks in the path – moments when surrender seemed easier than resilience. But you chose differently. You stood tall, dusted off setbacks, and stitched resilience into your very fabric. Self-respect wasn’t a luxury; it was your compass. You built your story – one that embraced both triumphs and tumbles.

8. The Patterns Align

Now, as you stand on the precipice, gaze backward. The dots connect – a celestial constellation of experiences, missteps, and revelations. You got precisely what you deserved: a mosaic of growth, woven with threads of courage, love, and resilience. My fellow wanderer, embrace the journey. The best and worst are but brushstrokes on your canvas. You’re not just a product of circumstance; you’re the artist of your becoming. And when the final chapter unfolds, you’ll trace your finger along the lines and whisper, “Yes, this is precisely who I was meant to become.”

Subscribe to my essays https://djayasi.medium.com/subscribe

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Child of Curiosity

Image
A Child of Curiosity How inherent inquisitiveness became a key driver in learning experiences. Denzil Jayasinghe · B orn in the mid-20th century, I am a product of the post-World War II era. My parents, who were teenagers when the war commenced, married in the 1950s. As a representative of the baby boomer generation, I was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac. My birth took place at Zoysa Nursing Home, a renowned institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, around 5 in the morning. Sri Lanka, known for its tropical climate, is a beautiful island nation south of India. This climate appealed to me, and I sought similar weather in my twenties, spending them in Dubai, where the winter resembles an Australian summer. Raised by religious parents, I held them in deep affection. However, the church teachings posed a paradox for a young mind, instructing one to love God more than one’s parents. I initially adhered to the Ten Commandments and other societal norms in ...
Read more

Demons and Devotion

Image
Demons and Devotion: A Family’s Pilgrimage Denzil Jayasinghe · “Demons and Devotion: A Pilgrimage to Tewatta”   is a short story by Denzil Jayasinghe about a family’s pilgrimage to a holy site in Sri Lanka.   The story follows Denzil, the eldest son, as he reluctantly accompanies his devout parents on this journey to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary. Although initially sceptical, Denzil reflects on his childhood faith and his family's hardships.   However, the pilgrimage turns unexpectedly when an encounter with a priest who claims a demon possesses Denzil creates tension and leaves him angry. T he air hung heavy with a solemnity that felt out of place for a silver wedding anniversary. Denzil’s father, whose pronouncements held the weight of scripture, declared, “We are going on a special trip to the holy place of Our Lady at Tewatta. This day, showing God’s blessings, will be a private event for our family.” On a recent arrival for a two-week holiday in Sri Lanka...
Read more

Shattered Innocence

Image
  Shattered Innocence A story of a needle Denzil Jayasinghe · “Shattered Innocence. A Story of a Needle”   by   Denzil Jayasinghe   is a short story told from the perspective of a lad who discovers their   father injecting insulin . This discovery shatters his innocence as he grapples with the reality of his   father’s diabetes   and the fear and uncertainty it brings. The story explores themes of family, responsibility, and the challenges of facing difficult realities. T he pre-dawn light filtered through the window, casting a pale glow over a scene that shattered my world. We were lost in the quiet routine of getting ready — me for the apprenticeship, my siblings for school, and my father for his work. I wandered into my parents’ room, searching for the familiar black comb. What I found wasn’t the comb but a sight that froze me in my tracks. Father, stripped down to his white undies, his usually strong face creased with worry, was doing something… di...
Read more