How can we incorporate sustainable practices into our daily lives in a way that benefits the planet, promotes our well-being, and fosters meaningful connections with others?

¿Cómo podemos incorporar prácticas sostenibles en nuestra vida diaria de manera que beneficie al planeta, promueva nuestro bienestar y fomente conexiones significativas con otros?

The slogan
“Stay Gold”
acts as a powerful reminder to stay true to oneself and seek comfort and inspiration in beauty, and transform pain into resilience

El lema
“Mantente Dorado”
actúa como un poderoso recordatorio para mantenerse fiel a uno mismo, buscar consuelo e inspiración en la belleza de las vivencias, y transformar el dolor en resiliencia

Reborn – A Tale of Self-Deception and Redemption

·

March 15, 2024

In the labyrinth of the mind, where truth and illusion intertwine, a haunting tale unfolds. Something doesn’t feel right. The shadow in the night, what is it that it wants from me? Perhaps it is lonely. Whispers of deceit and echoes of betrayal reverberate through the shadows, casting a pall over a soul in turmoil. The question begs to be answered, “Did he use me?”. The overwhelming flood of emotions leaves me feeling like a burn victim, raw and exposed, unable to bear the weight of rejection and vulnerability without crumbling beneath its crushing weight. I had let my guard down yet again to no avail.

Lost in a web of lies and self-deception, the monster stands on the precipice of madness and takes me away from my safe space, tormented by the specter of a past shrouded in blackouts and deceit. As the darkness within grows, so too does the sense of alienation from one’s true self, a mere shadow of who I once was.

In a desperate bid to shield myself from the pain of abandonment, together with the monster, I weave lies, convincing myself that pushing others away is the only way to prove my worthlessness. For the lies are just a mere shadow of fears. Or at least that’s what I was led to believe as a sense of self-preservation. Yet, deep down, a flicker of awareness stirs a whisper of truth amidst the storm.

“Stay away, stay away, stay away”, a plea for self-preservation tinged with a sense of impending danger. In the grip of a dissociative episode, the boundaries between reality and illusion blur, casting me adrift in a sea of uncertainty. Why was I doing this? The monster hears me trying to be brave, but instead of eating me, he opens up his arms to me. What does he have in mind, and why did he come here at this time? Recreating the past, as if this was my only way to fix the trauma I carried within me.

Turns out the monster wasn’t trying to hurt me; he was only trying to save me. As the realms of darkness and light teeter on the edge of chaos, a radiant glimmer of hope arises. Just then, an olive branch angel enters, bringing in light and redemption. Fueled by newfound courage, angels and demons unite to confront their inner shadows and embrace the elusive truth that beckons them. In a vulnerable moment of unity, they draw upon their shared strength to help me confront my fears and shatter the chains of captivity woven by old shadows. Together, they help me embark on a journey of rebirth and transformation, emerging stronger and more enlightened for a harmonious new beginning, moving forward.

And so, in the heart of the mystery that once bound me, I discover the key to my own salvation: the courage to embrace my shadows, to confront my darkness, and to finally, truly, stay.

Written and Edited by: Yessenia J. Rivera

Art work created by: Yessenia J. Rivera