Renovatio

When you say "life", some will envision a single chain of events - with a single beginning and a conclusive end. They will see an idyllic stream, from point A to B - an unobstructed sequence - constant and unbroken til our singular demise. But such individuals have surely been deceived, for the rest of us are left to endure a more ruthless variation, aware of a far crueler, recurring semblance of death: one that spares the body and ravages the soul. Whether it is with betrayal or heart break, shame or rage, anguish or sorrow, our spirits are stabbed, beaten, and torn: ultimately consumed in unfortunate flame. And for an eternity, it may seem to have disappeared, lost to the cold brutality of the world - and perhaps it has.
But from the gaping void of despair, a soul can be redeemed; from the depths of sorrow, a life can be rebuilt; and from the darkest of ashes, the dead can be reborn - again and again and again.
For life is never one-dimensional. Rarely is it ever a straight and continuous line. It is an ever-shifting direction, a montage of failures and breakdowns, restarts and do-overs, conquests and upsets. It is the steady beat of our heart, the persisting rhythm of our enduring soul as we make our bittersweet journey through birth, death, and rebirth.

There is always one person you love who becomes that definition. It usually happens retrospectively, but it happens eventually. This is the person who unknowingly sets the template for what you will always love about other people, even if some of these lovable qualities are self-destructive and unreasonable. The person who defines your understanding of love is not inherently different than anyone else, and they’re often just the person you happen to meet the first time you really, really, want to love someone. But that person still wins. They win, and you lose. Because for the rest of your life, they will control how you feel about everyone else.

—Chuck Klosterman

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  3. seunghomattyang said: That template is myself.
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