Experiences are the core of our journey. Without them, the journey itself cannot hold meaning. When we call them experiences, we acknowledge the need to perceive them, live through them, and perhaps learn something from them. Otherwise, they are just meaningless events that pass us by, leaving scars whose origins we don’t understand.
We must choose: Should we stand and submerge into life’s events, no matter how painful they may be, or should we emerge and withdraw, clinging to safety and missing the chance to become wise and strong? Will we choose to deceive ourselves, to stay untouched and feel proud of avoiding life’s impact, and, when we stumble, to call ourselves victims?
These experiences can be as intense as the pain a mother endures in childbirth, a pain that breaks her body but not her spirit. Yet, the moment she holds her newborn, she smiles and laughs, instantly forgetting her ordeal of unbearable pain and tears.
I chose to go deep and learn, maybe a bit more intense than it takes, but I submerged in the core, which was unpleasant.
It says, ‘Small things happen for a reason.’ This idea represents a sympathetic invitation to embrace small life events and recognize them mindfully. In Zen Buddhist philosophy, all things are interconnected, and no matter how small or insignificant an event may seem, every action, object, or moment is part of a complex web of cause and effect. Mindfully experiencing each of these bits and pieces allows us to cherish them, leading to a deeper, fuller understanding of our lives.
When you hit the abyss, you’re forced to confront your deepest fears, stripped of all options except to face them directly. In that raw, vulnerable state, you begin to build the tools and skills needed to survive, and through survival, you grow stronger. With strength comes wisdom, and you keep learning—about resilience, courage, and self-compassion—until you reach a place of acceptance. And once you accept, you finally begin to live fully, not by escaping your fears but by embracing life with newfound clarity and purpose.
I want to remind myself of many experiences that made me strong. I am not a survivor; I am a woman.
Dana Obeid
