Published April 1, 2009

Broken bodies. Broken minds. Broken spirits. Broken dreams. Life is an incredibly heartbreaking experience.

But there’s beauty is in the small moments, the triumphs of the heart.

The frisson of passion. Sight of a rainbow. One true bond of friendship. An outstretched hand in a time of darkness. Art that inspires a wellspring of emotional reaction. The smell of fall. The restorative salve of the sea. Insights of clarity. Hard won wisdom. Fireflies. Starfish. The opportunity to start anew with each new day. An authentic compliment. The comical snort of a pig. Contagious laughter. Shrugging off the constraints of society to pursue true happiness. Moments when integrity and depth of character transmute the human drama into a testament of living grace. Waking up to the realization that you are a-okay with the person you are today. Accepting that your parents are people, too. The power that comes from learning we are survivors. Lightning.

Ida Antares Becker
Charleston, South Carolina

Photo by Ben Williams.

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