Recognizing Value: An Act of Resistance
In a reality that belongs neither to the realm of fairies nor to that of unicorns, a mystery lies hidden: the intrinsic value of being. Every element, from the most tangible to the most elusive, carries within it a silent declaration of existence.
Plants, animals, objects, human beings – yourself – deserve to be recognized and valued, not for what they might represent or for their potential usefulness, but simply because they are. This act of appreciation is an act of resistance, an antidote to the rampant nihilism and cynicism that diminishes the beauty of being.
The Place of the Heart: A Meeting of Spirit and Flesh
Recognizing this value, despite pain, wars, and illness, is a challenge. But it is also an opportunity. Perhaps the secret lies in the interaction between spirit and flesh, in an awakening that traverses the mind, heart, and the invisible. It is a meeting of fragments weaving into a larger tapestry, an invitation to seek the “place of the heart,” where who we are meets who we can become.
From Desire to Awareness: Dwelling in the Present
This is not about endlessly chasing “more.” There is a subtle yet crucial difference between the desire that nurtures and the craving that consumes. Recognizing it requires an act of awareness: a pause, a breath that brings us back to the present, where we can embrace what already exists.
This does not mean stopping, but creating and envisioning what could be. The present, then, is not a limitation but a dwelling: a place to explore without haste, without the need to define or possess, while fueled by an inner fire that urges us to experiment and create.
Protecting Life: A Movement of Authentic Connection
Valuing what lives inevitably leads to wanting to protect it. Not out of vanity, nor to showcase how “good” we are in the eyes of others, but from a sense of authentic connection. Protecting becomes a natural gesture born from appreciation. It is a movement that opposes devaluation, the feeling of being diminished or diminishing others. It is an internal shift, a “conversion” toward a life where appreciation is not a luxury but a necessity. Only through this protection can we nurture the intrinsic value of what surrounds us.
The Courage of Imperfection: Embracing Doubt
Yet, this path is not without doubt. As Rollo May says, human beings tend to run faster when they have lost their way or have not yet found it. But true courage lies not in fleeing from doubt but in embracing it, in acting with it by our side. This is the courage of imperfection: to carry on despite uncertainty, knowing that success and failure are secondary to the intrinsic value of the journey itself.
Being Authentic: Bearing Witness to Our Existence
The challenge, then, is clear: to give voice to our feelings, to bear witness to our being. As long as we are alive, we have the power to manifest, to interact with what is visible and invisible, to leave traces that express not perfection but the authenticity of our being.
In doing so, we discover that there is nothing banal in the simple act of being. Every moment in which we choose to bear witness to our intrinsic value becomes an invitation to others – and to ourselves – to rediscover the profound meaning of existence.
