As of late, sunflowers and samurais have been very meaningful to me. What do sunflowers and samurais have to do with one another you may ask? Both provide a picture of the dance between death and life. If you’ve been following this blog, you know that a major theme it touches on is life coming … Continue reading A Lesson from Sunflowers and Samurais
The Tiny Flame
The Voice of the Tiny Flame The loud voice in my head says to me, "Give up. Your fight is in vain. The quest is futile." The small nearly silent whisper in my heart tells me, "Carry on. The fight is not over." Is it not strange that the tiny flame is stronger than the … Continue reading The Tiny Flame
The Song of the Sea and the Longing that it Brings
Why are all drawn to the ocean? It is by by the ocean that most men make their dwelling. For the ocean sings a song, whispering a message lost long ago from the ancient of days. . . a message we know innately as children but is lost as we grow older. . . a … Continue reading The Song of the Sea and the Longing that it Brings
Where Dreams Go to Die
You hear the call, the call to go into the barren place, that place we know as the desert. Fear rushes to the soul as memories of the harsh desert sun beating on your skin and the cold night wind biting at your face and fingers returns to your mind, making the hairs on your … Continue reading Where Dreams Go to Die
When Heroes and Villains are Born
Every hero and villain is born in the desert. Both, like the rest of humanity, are in as much control of the circumstances of their lives as a fly's ability to cast Mars into another galaxy. They cannot control what happens in their lives, but they can control how they respond. Tragedy knocks at the … Continue reading When Heroes and Villains are Born
Happiness is a Shallow Life Goal
One thing the desert killed for good in me is the need for happiness. Now, I know that sounds pretty morbid and depressing right out of the gate, but hang with me for a bit and allow me to explain. A recurring idea that has appeared throughout these blog posts is that the deserts of … Continue reading Happiness is a Shallow Life Goal
Become a Monster
The desert has a way of changing you into someone your past self would not even recognize, someone who would shock your past self as well as those who knew you before. There is something revolutionary that happens in the human soul when we hit rock bottom and rise to the top, when our worldviews … Continue reading Become a Monster
Who are You? Pt. 5 Change the Narrative
In the last post, we covered facing the darkness that is inside each of us. We established that we are way more complex than we give ourselves credit for and we don't know what we actually believe until we start facing ourselves. Like the desert, the inner workings of our soul and the "why" behind … Continue reading Who are You? Pt. 5 Change the Narrative
Who are You? Pt. 4 Facing Your Inner Darkness
As your time in the desert increases and the unforgiving environment saps your strength, you realize you are running out of time. Food and water are scarce and it won't be long until you die. Death creeps upon your doorstep and the vultures circling above you are a constant reminder that time is against you. … Continue reading Who are You? Pt. 4 Facing Your Inner Darkness
Who are You? Pt. 3 Stop Lying to Yourself
The desert is the great mirror, the revealer of your truest intentions. In it, who you really are comes to the surface as the scorching heat and the blinding light burns away any walls you had up protecting your facades. As you look out into the expanse, you are faced with a question, "Will I … Continue reading Who are You? Pt. 3 Stop Lying to Yourself
Gifts from the Desert 