Francis Xavier Baltazar
Perhaps
(an ancient Chinese proverb)
In a modest agricultural village, a farmer had a horse that his son loved to ride. One day, the horse galloped away, and the neighbors gathered, saying, "What terrible luck!" The farmer calmly replied, "Perhaps."
A couple days passed, the horse returned, bringing another magnificent steed with it. The neighbors exclaimed, "This is marvelous!" With a modest grin, the farmer answered, "Perhaps."
Then came a twist: the son fell while riding and injured his leg. The neighbors lamented, "That new horse must have brought bad luck with it!" The farmer responded, "Perhaps."
Days later, soldiers came to recruit young men to join the military, but they passed by the injured boy as his injury made him unqualified. The neighbors cheered, "You are very fortunate!" The farmer simply nodded and said, "Perhaps."
Written within these walls...
Far too often, we’re conditioned to believe that real writing—writing that matters—is reserved for the so-called “elite” of society: celebrities, Ivy League grads, the PhDs, and the like. Systems of education continue to unconsciously instill in us to think that unless we hold such titles, there's no point for us to write anything other than what is asked from school. Fundamentally, we grow up learning that if you're an average Joe, don't bother writing because no one will benefit from it.
I'd like to share this message with you: everyone can and should give writing a try for the simple fact that it has a lot of potential to help achieve self development. In fact, numerous studies show that writing, in the form of journaling, is one of the most effective tools in therapy.
You don’t need a degree to share your thoughts, your experiences, your truths. Writing is not the exclusive domain of the highly educated or the "credentialed." It is a human right. At its core, writing is an act of expression, a powerful tool for exploring emotions and gaining new perspectives. It’s an outlet, a mirror, and a way to connect with yourself and with others.
Grab a pen and a pad, or fire up that laptop, and just start. It’s time to stop letting the norm dictate who is “qualified” to write. Write for yourself. Write for catharsis. Write to see the world from a new angle.
One Day at a Time
One Day at a Time was released on Father's Day in June 2023. In the book, the author embarks on an insightful exploration of the intricate relationship between trauma and resilience, uncovering a paradoxical truth that reshapes our understanding of life's most challenging events.
This exploration invites readers to delve deeper into the complexities of trauma, which can feel like trying to catch smoke—elusive and deeply personal. When two people encounter the same traumatic event, their responses can diverge dramatically. One might spiral into unhealthy coping habits, while the other finds resilience through a supportive network.
At times, trauma seems to take full control, steering our lives in unforeseen directions and lingering long after the event. Have you paused to reflect on the traumas that echo in your life? How do you navigate their impact? Are you truly charting your own course, or has trauma seized the wheel?