We travel various paths throughout our lives — some geographical, some emotional, and some profoundly transformative. I used to find solace in the journey of healing, perennially looking to stitch up the scars life had etched on me. But today, I am choosing a new narrative. My chapter of healing has concluded (for the time being), and now, I am crossing the threshold of a journey focussed on living fully.
I cherish the healing journey and its undeniable significance in my life. It empowered me to face my fears, confront past traumas, and accept the helping hand of support - God bless my therapist and my friends who feel like therapy. My months were filled with therapeutic sessions, introspection, and healing methods, each contributing to self-awareness and lessons in resilience, self-love and community care. This journey was instrumental in shaping my life, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.
However, an epiphany dawned upon me, illuminating the notion that unending healing might serve as a hindrance rather than a guide. Healing, while crucial, should not encapsulate our entire existence; it should be a stepping stone towards a richer experience of life. It isn't our journey's end but a transfiguring process that readies us to welcome the joy (and pain) of living in the shape of our most authentic selves.
An overemphasis on healing can unintentionally curtail our growth and deprive us of the sheer joy of living in the present. It can become an insidious form of toxic productivity, a safety blanket shielding us from life's unpredictability. We unknowingly stifle our capacity to pursue passions, take risks, and express ourselves with candour.
As I reflect I can see that once I stopped obsessing over what needed to be healed and embraced what felt alive, my perspective shifted. I am no longer on the precipice, I have crossed the threshold into the future me, the one I was conditioned to believe would be on the other side of being healed - she has been here all along.
Life, to me, is now an ongoing journey of self-discovery and evolution. Instead of being anchored by healing, I have set my sights on living. I celebrate my idiosyncrasies, embrace my quirks aka my flaws, and plunge into experiences that remind me that to live is a verb. Life is too precious to be boxed within the confines of healing; it's a masterful canvas waiting to be adorned with splashes of joy, love, and adventure.
By loosening the shackles of perpetual healing, I've discovered a newfound sense of liberation. My scars, once seen as marks of pain, have transformed into symbols of strength, indicative of battles braved and won (whew those internal battles!). With each step forward, I am growing more in tune with my true self — a self that revels in both light and darkness, and delights in the wonderful chaos of being human.
If you find yourself entrenched in an infinite healing loop, I encourage you to pause and introspect. Are you leveraging healing as a shield from fully experiencing life's wonders? Dare to journey from your comfort zone into your learning zone, pursue your passions, and revel in the journey of self-discovery.
For now, the curtain has fallen on my healing journey, but the romance of me living out loud has just begun. My identity is no longer tethered to my wounds, but to the radiant light that emanates from within me. I invite you to accompany me on this extraordinary journey of embracing life's magnificent narrative.
Dear you, choose to live with audacity, love with intensity, and dance with joy in the great concert of existence. May we grow into cherishing the intricate tapestry of our lives and savour the precious moments in real time.
The healing journey is temporary, but the voyage of living is a never-ending odyssey brimming with boundless opportunities.
After all, what could be more healing than that?