let’s talk, you and me
It would help me here if you provided instant mental responses to my questions.
Hey there. How’s it going? How are things?
I hope they’re well. You can only say so much truth about how things really are… most people don’t tend to know off-hand, usually saying “good” or “I’m doing well”. Was that one of your responses?
If so, I hope it’s actually good or you’re actually well.
You ever feel like you’re just one piece of the puzzle? Or maybe you feel like you’re the only piece? Or maybe you feel like you’re the puzzle itself - still unsolved, even by yourself?
I feel like the only piece to my own puzzle. And, well, I am. And you are. Not my puzzle - your own. That’s not a bad thing, by the way.
Life is such a puzzle and the only life you can live is your own. So, it’s a puzzle because every day you’re trying to solve it. Good on you, by the way. I’ve seen those strides lately. You might think they’re small, but every ounce helps. Even at your lowest, you’re still learning new things about yourself. That’s some commendable shit.
I always thought that life was confusing. And I mean - the way I was thinking about it? Yeah, it was. Madly so.
Though… I realized it wasn’t my life I was getting confused about. It was everyone else’s lives, and how they affect mine or more specifically how I affect theirs. I mean… it’s good to be aware, but you can’t live their lives for them. You can certainly be an influence, but that’s it.
Focus on your puzzle. Give a hand to a friend now and then, take a break and sip something cold - but focus on your own puzzle. There’s no you without it.
I see selfless people often, they dedicate seemingly all of their time to the puzzles of others - but fail to realize without their own puzzle, without their own life, they couldn’t help others. And before they know it, they won’t be able to. They’ll throw away their own pieces because of it. Give in to everyone else’s struggles but their own.
You can solve it, by the way. But it’ll take time. And the point isn’t the solution, but the experience you earned to get there.