Imagine you’re learning a trade. Let’s say you’re training to become a goldsmith. You’re learning your craft from a master.

You watch your master. You observe and draw your own conclusions. You think you know better. You argue. You disagree. You go through every stage until the day comes when you pass your exam and become a goldsmith yourself.

And you have two choices. You can go your own wayor stay and continue working for someone else. Each choice is okay. The consequences, however, are different.

In the first case, you take responsibility for yourself. You become free and independent. You unlockand discover your fullest potential. You face yourself and your own beliefs. You look backat the perspective you had while being a student. Things that were once invisible become perfectly clear.

You begin to understand your master’s message and example. You see the care hidden behind what once felt like resistance. You recognize the fear your master once carried for you – a fear that has now become your own responsibility.And you realize how well you’re handling it today, thanks to the countless examples of patience and unconditional faith your teacher showed along the way.

You discover the tools your master gave you were enough. They were perfect. But you only know it now, when the stone falls apart in your hands because your own pride convinced you that you knew a better way to shape it.

In the second case, your potential remains asleep. You don’t need to awaken it, at least not fully. Growth follows a very different path. When the stone breaks apart, the responsibility still belongs to the master.

I know from experiencethat choosing the first path is not easy. I’ve lived both.

You consciously leave a place that is warm, familiar, comfortable, and safe. You don’t leave because something is wrong, but because that experience has come to an end… and now it’s your time.

Today I understand those whose journey called life was coming to an end, and who allowed me to be with them during that time. I understand the way they looked at everything around them, taking in every single momentbecause those were their final minutes. I understand it now as I look back at the road,the forest, the river, the laughter, the people, and that wonderful place.

“One more year,” I thought. “Four more trips… It’ll be okay.” Then half a year. “Three more trips.” Then the last two. “Seven days… Six… Five… Four… Three… Two… One… Twelve hours… Three hours… Fifteen minutes… One last look in the mirror…”

The end————————————————————————————————————–

At the age of 47, I consciously died… and was born again.

This beautiful experiencehelped me understand so much. Because talking about something and living it are two completely different things. I realized that life is only a moment, and it’s worth living as if it was the last one I’ll ever have. Because I never know if it is. I realized that I can experience everything without becoming attached to anything. That change is the only constant. And so much more…

I am grateful to everyone who has given me the opportunity to experience life this way. Thanks for supporting me. For allowing me to be part of your growth and your life. Thanksto you, I transformed myself, and I continue to grow.

Thank you. Thank you.Thank you.

A master will always remain a master. Without a master,a student does not exist. There is no place for separation, because this is unconditional love.

I was shapedin Emandar. I am Emandar, and it’s time to move on.

“The new asks to be explored, not feared.”
— Dariusz Emanowicz

Thanks a lot for reading.
Published
22 September 2020

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Dorota Sznyterman-Łabęcka