On Paradise

What is paradise like? The most common notion is of a beautiful place, with lush greens, pristine blue skies, splendid landscapes, breath-taking scenery, gorgeous fields of flowers, shimmering riches and gold and so much more for the eyes and soul to feast on.  

A paradise is a genuinely perfect existence. That thought makes life fade away in comparison. The life we live – which is ugly and beautiful, sweet but sour, unfair and unkind but also remarkable and entertaining. Life is black and white, and all the colors of the rainbow.  It is absolutely everything we have, so why do we resent it?

Can we reach a state of paradise in our lives, or is that just an illusion?

Consider for a second that paradise is nowhere. Paradise is what you feel at a certain point in time. You can't go around looking for it as a place that exists somewhere in specific. Paradise is more something you feel at a certain time. It's in that moment.

Can we aim for a mental paradise? The state of mind to achieve, where we are not bound by frustrations, idiosyncrasies, self-made limitations, or even shattered dreams.

If we don't immediately say no

If we take a second before we speak our mind

If we look at people a tad different

If we look beyond the obvious

If we look at them with an unbiased eye; no judging, no stereotyping

If we know when to leave

If we know when to say little and when not to say anything at all

If we realize there is so much more beneath the dull surface

If we nudge that nagging feeling that scares us, and do it anyway

If we don’t fall prisoners to the past

If we silence the raging daemons in our heads

If we are open

There is a whole new world; waiting for us to experience. Full of new opportunities, and new dimensions to explore and learn from - about ourselves, about life, about others. There are new venues to take and endless possibilities, and also new mistakes and new interests to pursue. Every single new experience, even if small or trivial, adds meaning and depth to our own life.

If nothing else, it might lead us to recognize the fine line between living and being alive.

~ misteca

Inspired by these lyrics from the song Beached, by Orbital

Trust me
It's Paradise
This is where the hungry come to feed
For mine is a generation that circles the globe
in search of something we haven't tried before
so never refuse an invitation
never resist the unfamiliar
never fail to be polite
and never outstay your welcome

just keep your mind open and
suck in the experience
and if it hurts
you know what ...
it's probably worth it