In this life, I have had my struggles—
Mankind’s abuse, intolerance, wars, and corruption.
And no different were the personal aspects:
love, home, happiness—
All fleeting, no peace, within or external.
Then, I found you.
At first, I sought tranquility—
An ear to bend, a friendship perhaps.
Yet, you needed serenity, a peace within.
So, it was I who lent the ear, the shoulder, the words of understanding.
In this endeavor, I saw in you a trampled blossom—
Damaged, bent, a bit broken, but not a loss.
You just needed someone, anyone, to care,
To show you the light through the dark.
So, I listened, I nurtured,
Shown light, provided warmth,
Fed you, and caressed the soil with tears,
Until you felt whole again.
To be clear, I didn’t fix you;
I didn’t mold you.
You were whole, you were full of worth.
I only let you see what I see in you.
In turn, you saw me, as I saw you—
Someone discarded on the refuse of life.
Imparted, nay, reciprocated, the kindness you had received,
Knowing that I, like you, lay scarred and injured, but not a loss.
Tranquility and Serenity—
Words often interchanged,
But both have meanings that aren’t quite the same.
For one is peace in your surroundings, and the other is peace from within.
You cannot seek one
Without discovering and embracing the other.
Two sides of the same coin, like Yin and Yang,
Always seeking balance.
You guided me,
Lighting my way through the darkest moments.
I held steadfast, unwavering—the rock you needed,
A new foundation to build upon.
I confess this truth to you,
As you have given both, reciprocal,
As I have given unto you.
Time will tell.
This story has not ended.
It is still being written—
A journey to destinations unknown.
And all because,
I FOUND YOU.
I see too often these words used where it should be one versus the other.
And then I reflected upon my own relationship.
I struggle, as do most. I seek the balance, the peace, both inner and external.
Tao as an augmentation to my Catholic upbringing allows me to seek the peace I desire. Nothing is right, nothing is wrong; search all permutations, and where there is balance, there is peace, where there is peace, there is truth.
