A year ago, my dear friend Samantha Moyo invited me to contribute to her new book, Tapestry of Magic: A Handbook for Life Outside The Mainstream.
Or, a self-help book for anyone bored of self-help books.
Or, an artistic memoir written to our future children.
Not that I have children, or know what to tell them, but this didn’t prevent me from writing a short letter to be included in Sam’s book.
I hope you enjoy it!
Dear kids,
Before I share some of the things I have learned about life so far, let me say that the point of life isn't to live according to someone else's advice but to discover for yourself what life is about. It's not the answer that matters but the process of finding it. People live their lives trying to get somewhere, and in the end, they realise that the entire point isn't getting there but the journey itself.
Life is a dance. We strive to overcome challenges, learn skills, build companies, find love, and sometimes forget that this very seeking is the dance of life. The problems we face can be very real, and yet what meaning would our life have if we didn't have a chance to grow by overcoming them?
The world will try to tell you something is wrong with you. Don't believe it. There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing is wrong with your body, skin colour, gender, language, sexuality, religion, nationality or character traits. Try to remember that this is also true of others and learn to see the world through their eyes.
One of the hardest things to learn and accept is that the world is both broken and perfect at the same time. It can and should be better in countless ways. This is worth fighting for. Yet, paradoxically, there is also perfection in its brokenness. The world will never be perfect, and at the same time, it already is.
You will witness a lot of violence. No doubt you will feel at times that violence is the best option, too. Yet, violence is what people do when they don't know what to do with their feelings. When we don't know how to just be sad, angry, afraid or hurt without acting out, we turn to violence. This, in turn, makes others respond with violence. I hope you'll be able to see how senseless this cycle is and choose not to participate in it.
Each of us has superpowers, including you. Some superpowers we are born with, such as sensitivity or talent for singing. Others can be learned, for example, being still.
Being still, fully feeling your feelings and noticing your thoughts without reacting is a superpower. Most people don't know this. This superpower brings happiness and joy. It also enables us not to do or say things we later regret and, most of all, allows us to get to know ourselves.
We can only get to know ourselves if we learn to be still and at peace in solitude. In an age when every piece of technology is fighting for our attention, this superpower will give you back your freedom. Socrates taught that an unexamined life is not worth living, and without being still, we can't learn to examine our lives.
You will have many opinions about how things are and how things should be, and that's important. It's essential to take a stand for what you believe. Yet, nothing is ever a whole story. Every perspective is inherently incomplete. There's a grain of truth even in things that look entirely false. There is always a bigger, more complex, more nuanced perspective.
As a kid, you might think that adults always know better. After all, they have PhDs, appear on TV as experts and speak as if they have answers. They don't. If they did, our world wouldn't be such a mess. Adults are really kids in grown-up bodies. Those who are really smart realise that and don't pretend they know better.
You will learn that the most essential things in life cannot be expressed in words. They can only be experienced and lived. The most profound lessons you will learn will leave you lost for words. At some point, you'll see that while words matter, they also don't matter at all. The words are the language of the mind, but the language of the heart and the soul is entirely different. Learn to understand it, and you will find yourself in a vast community of others who speak the same language without saying any words.
I hope these words will serve as a guide on your journey, dear kids. Remember, life is not about finding the right answers but asking the right questions. It's about learning, growing, and discovering the beauty of the unknown. Embrace the challenges, trust yourself, and don't be afraid to make mistakes. Keep dancing, keep learning, and keep shining your light.
With love and admiration,
Uncle Evgeny
Share this post