It’s fascinating to me how much we take health for granted, while steering ourselves as far away as possible from pain for the sake of pleasure.

Yet, how would we know the true value of pleasure without pain?

The nature of duality is such that we cannot possibly know love without hate; joy without sorrow; happiness without sadness; health without disease. Yet, all of these things (hate, sorrow, sadness, disease) hold with them a negative stigma when they should also be celebrated for what they gift—perspective.

You cannot make a diamond without pressure; you cannot forge a sword without a flame.

Each of the aforementioned negatives bring about a true understanding of the positive. It’s not negative to experience hate; it’s not negative to experience sorrow; it’s not negative to experience sadness; it’s not negative to experience disease.

Each of these comes with it a teachable moment and an opportunity to evolve.

So, don’t run from the negative, only in search of the positive; rather, appreciate and thank your pain. For, without pain, all of life would lose its flavour.

That being said, if you’re currently in the midst of your dark-time, just know that light is up ahead. And if you’re currently in your light-time, be thankful, but realize that the dark is inevitably going to follow.

Such is life—an ebb and flow between wants, needs, haves, hates and happiness.

-flow with it.