The wisdom we gain as life unwinds are the mistakes reclaimed by grace and time.
Nearly sixty-five years have passed, and I remain deeply intrigued—forever curious about the intrinsic nature of things and how they come to be. What began as an exuberant, youthful exploration has quietly matured into the internal inquisitions of an elder. Yet, it remains a life full of wonder. The more closely I examine my existence, the more encouraged I am by present possibilities, and the less apprehensive I feel to test boundaries that once appeared immovable
Like most, social concepts have left their marks upon my thinking, but all life forms naturally seek equilibrium. Many of the beliefs I once held about reality no longer seem relevant; the desire to live more efficiently has demanded greater simplicity, to keep pace with life’s inescapable fragility. For me, there has never been a true separation between the physical and the spiritual. Religion, diet, exercise, or devotion to discipline have always functioned toward a single, unifying purpose—the refinement of the self. Though my ideologies and practices have constantly shifted, evolved, or perhaps just revolved, I still find enormous joy, even moments of ecstasy, in the ritual of it all.
Beyond the books, the courses, the teachings, and the endless surface chatter lies the soul—whatever that may be. Self-study remains my highest form of education and truth, the single pursuit most worthy of undivided attention. For as long as I can remember, my world has inevitably unfolded from within.
To hold a state of perfect balance in the midst of dissent, is bliss. I am learning—slowly becoming more intimately acquainted with a deep gratitude that once evaded my grasp. The more frequently I gain access to this space, and the longer I am able to reside within its presence, the more complete I become. In my own presence, there is no shortage; every perceived absence is returned to the present. To know that nothing I once sought exists apart from me, as an independent or self-actualized entity. That I cannot be anything more than what – already is. What I seek, I already am.
I am thankful for an abundance of things but, more than anything, the quiet understanding that I am already in possession of everything.
The texture of silence in the morning; to find joy in a simple whiff of incense; the patterns of smoke afloat the air; the delicate dance of dust motes within a stream of sunlight beamed through the window of a quiet room; the feel of grainy waves of oak innately etched into the wooden floor beneath my feet; and knowing that no destiny is predetermined, but rather personally designed—not shaped by social construct, but willfully wielded within the workshop of my mind—for this, I am raptured: gratitude undefined.
by K. Osei