Lanterns
It’s so important to have positive outlets that help you, and bring you happiness; even a glimmer of the feeling. We’re living through the craziest times right now, and everyone, literally everyone, is going through it. There is something happening in every single person’s life that is stressing them out, giving them anxiety, and worries, and truly overwhelming us all. Not only are things tough in the outside world, but in our personal world’s things are shaky as well.
The mind is a very powerful and interesting thing, and sometimes that power is scary and can do bad things. It can conjure up the strangest thoughts and ultimately create a false reality. When it gets to the point where we feel as though we have no outlet, no literal escape from the bizarre times of the world and toughness of our personal lives, our mind spirals with all that free time on our hands. Scrolling through our phones is how we spend a lot of our days now; that’s just the truth. And yet most times we’re doing that, our minds are still going and we aren’t 100% paying attention to what we’re looking at. Our thoughts are still screaming at us, and eating at us. The spiral commences and we’re led down a dark lit path, holding onto a burning lantern that is barely giving off light anymore. And we’re by ourselves, walking the path alone.
Or so we think.
Because the lantern we’re holding so tightly to, that one last glimmer of light and hope we have, is not bright enough to show us how many people are beside us, going down that same path we are. But the small things that make us laugh, flip our stomachs in the smallest ways, and create butterflies are what will add to our lantern. So hold onto that last bit of light you have, and set out on a journey to find what will make it brighter. Cliche and overused but real: stop and smell the roses. Stop for the little things and truly take them in. Go on adventures, and try something you normally wouldn’t. Talk and spend more time with the people who make you feel good. Play on repeat the song that gives you the chills, and makes you cry good tears because shit, someone finally gets it. Whatever and whoever makes you feel alive, keep it and them close to you.
When our mind is trying to trick us into thinking we are alone, we’re never getting out of where we are, and there is nothing left, focus on your smallest piece of light, whatever it be. And know all you have to do is turn that lantern a few different directions to see that there’s people all around you, going through the very same things and are looking to help you as much as they need the same help.
