Serendipity

What was, will never be.
What is, comes with intention, yet arrives unexpectedly.

Humans are fragile, and that fragility is intentional. We were never meant to stay whole, never meant to retain the innocence of our youth. Where we once saw beauty in innocence, that beauty evolves into something like abstract art—a beauty found in chaos. Chaos becomes the foundation of our fears: the chaos of the unknown, the chaos of the unexpected. Yet it is only through chaos that we come to understand that every painful experience, every moment of resilience, shapes us. We become a sculpture, crafted by the chisels and hammers of life.

We enter adulthood scared of what lies ahead, broken by what we’ve endured. There is an unseen balance—a balance we are blind to in the moment, because we feel only the pain that reminds us we are still alive, still trying. This pain confirms that we woke up, that we’re still fighting. But on the other side of this pain lies resilience, forging a better future. Nothing broken remains broken forever; it is in our hands to bond the shattered pieces and create something new, something that must be.

I once read a phrase, “The old are wise, and the young are arrogant.” While not universally true, I understand the sentiment behind it.

As we grow older, the resilience we build through pain helps us find peace. This peace becomes our safe haven from life’s injustices. We stop wasting energy on protecting ourselves from every “what if” and instead focus on enjoying the peace that exists in this chaotic world. Whether it’s the love of those closest to us or the passions we pursue, we find countless reasons to hold onto this peace.

The youth, just beginning their journey, often carry an arrogance that shields them from chaos. It’s a defense mechanism, a shield that gets battered and bruised until eventually, there is nothing left. But through their confrontation with life’s cruelty, they gain understanding, and hopefully, they too will find their way to peace.

I say all this to emphasize: Do not expect to heal by returning to what you once were. This expectation leads to feeling lost. Instead, heal from the experience by understanding what exists now. Yes, hatred and cruelty are undeniable truths, but they do not have to define you. Let the scars of what happened remind you to never inflict the same harm on others. We will never return to who we were, and that’s okay—because we are stronger, wiser, and more resilient than we were yesterday. This prepares us for today, so we can embrace the peace of tomorrow.