Learning to Smile after a Life of Adventures…and Mistakes
A great place for reflection and introspection: The Grand Canyon
Image | Susanna Perrucchini
Life always has interesting ways to surprise us—for better or worse. No matter how much we struggle to believe that something is forever, deep down we all know that it is exactly the contrary and that the real core of life itself is a constant change .
But changes generally scare or worry people, especially those who feel safe(r) if they stick to a certain routine and to maintain the status quo.
Nevertheless, despite how much we try, we are condemned to lose this battle over and over, and sometimes, not even a lifetime is enough to learn the lesson. Which lesson, you might ask? That nothing lasts forever and we are all submitted to constant, inevitable changes and transformations .
And the current worldwide Covid situation is proving to us that adaptation is not only unavoidable, but, especially now , one of the best skills we have to survive the pandemic and its consequences.
Only a year ago , we were timidly trying to understand what was happening. One year later, we are pretty much aware of the tsunami which washed away our routines and lifestyles. I sometimes wonder, as most people do , about my future. The more uncertain the present is, the more we need to project our thoughts and hopes over the barricades.
If I look back, I can remember several situations in my past that put me in a terrible distress, sadness and pain. But I also remember the incredible joy of living a new adventure , the thrill for a new love, the satisfaction for new achievements. Having that in mind, now more than ever, I am certain that a true Rebirth is waiting for me at the end of this epic moment. And it’s there for those who can fully embrace the power of good memories and the strength to pursue many more.
I know that talking of Rebirth in such harsh times where many lost their lives may sound silly or even offensive. But the truth is that life is unstoppable , so if you are alive , you must keep on living! It really is simple as that .
The more we grow older , the more we have stories to tell and experiences to share and to rely on.
How many times have we felt that everything was lost? How many times have we thought that our life was over or not worth living? How many times have we felt defeated by life ?
Every single one of us has felt like a castaway floating on a raft , at least once in their lifetime—be honest ! It could have been due to a physical or mental disease, or feeling like we failed in an important relationship, or because we lost someone we love. Endless possibilities, endless tragedies. But what really counts at the end of the day is how much we try to keep on floating over the surface of water, how much we endure to swim against the currents, to reach land, or, if we are really really good, how much we enjoy surfing big waves!
Do you want to be side characters or the main one in the storytelling of your life?
I know (and I always knew) that I want to be the star of my life (just mine ), so I want to be ready to catch the speed train of changes when the time comes. I am aware that the fear and worries that come before big or small changes are normal and it is okay to be afraid .
Sometimes, if one is being too rational, one would never “tirarse a la piscina”, throw oneself into the swimming pool, as they say in Spanish. I love this expression because it really encapsulates just how difficult it is to start something new. One doesn’t even know what one is capable of, and yet one jumps (and eventually succeeds)!
I believe that a Rebirth of any kind starts with challenging the odds , making a daring move out of despair or blind irrationality or for any other possible reason. It doesn’t really matter what causes a Rebirth. What matters is the result, no matter what it will be because the mere act of trying or the willingness behind the push towards a change is a result in itself.
I hope to become an old lady with no regrets and with many Rebirths behind me, satisfied like the Smiling (if a bit disturbing ) Cheshire Cat, after a life filled with adventures ...and mistakes !
Embrace life with no regrets in the Italian Dolomites
Image | Susanna Perrucchini
