Midlife realization

We get trapped in these roles, these expectations we place on ourselves and others, and those that others place on us. At first, these roles and expectations are useful and necessary: they help us make sense of the world and provide a structure to navigate it. They give us a way to define ourselves, to understand who we are and how we fit into the larger picture. But over time, if we’re not mindful, these same patterns and mindsets can harden, becoming a carapace, a shell that confines us, a prison wall that keeps us locked inside.

I've seen this dynamic play out in myself and others. 

Our world begins to shrink. It becomes small and limited, and often lonely. We get stuck, living worm out scripts, unaware that we can rewrite them. Often, we don't realize that we can break free, or if we do, we're afraid to go there. 

But, it might be helpful to consider that the structures we once needed no longer serve us or others, and beyond those walls is something vast and alive.

This doesn't mean that the world outside is painless. Despite what we've been taught, especially by capitalist, consumerist culture, the world is not there to make us feel good or cater to our needs. Yet, it’s also not as terrifying as we often imagine. This realization can bring quite a bit of freedom. There's an excitement in tearing down walls, stepping into the openness with curiosity instead of fear.

A powerful form of love is connecting with what's out there —the small joys, the beauty and the struggles; the ordinary and extraordinary—and adding our own small touch to it, our genuine effort to make it just a little bit kinder, a little gentler. As we do this, we become freer, and the world itself a little less heavy. 

I hope that you're all good, and I hope that this is relatable in some way. Thank you for reading.