Here’s A Secret, We’re All Just Winging It

Anthony Ginsbrook

Sometimes it hurts before it heals, and sometimes it burns before it calms. Sometimes it aches before it soothes, and sometimes it all falls down before it begins to grow.

Sometimes we do something and we don’t know if it’s right, but we go with it because it’s all that we know. Sometimes we choose the wrong path, because in that moment, everything seems exactly right.

Sometimes we feel lost in the stormy sea, and even when we squint and strain our eyes, we still cannot make out the shore. Sometimes we just swim and swim, praying that land comes soon.

Sometimes we have to make a choice between what we want and what we need, and we subtly, quietly choose what we want. And sometimes when we do choose what we need, we end up yearning for what we want.

Sometimes we know we are ready for a change, a shift, but we are uncertain of what needs to be moved. So we carefully choose a brick, and move it, hoping that our tower doesn’t come crumbling down on top of us.

Sometimes we hurt our own hearts now to save them from shattering into smithereens later, and sometimes we accidentally break our hearts into bits and pieces without realizing that we are even hurting.

Sometimes we try to feel nothing and end up feeling the weight of the world on our shoulders, and sometimes we feel nothing when all we want to do is feel again.

Sometimes we try our hardest to protect the people we care the most about, and end up forgetting that we need protection too. Sometimes we try our hardest to share our love with others, and don’t always get the same love in return.

Sometimes we never even realize what we have until it’s gone. And sometimes we cling so tightly to something that’s hurting us, without realizing that it’s time to let go.

Sometimes we try our very hardest to save our hearts and to stretch our minds, but we still end up feeling like stagnant beings, treading water and hoping not to drown.

But here’s the truth: none of us really know what we’re doing. Most of the time, we’re all just winging it.

We try our best to make our lives beautiful, but none of us have really grasped the science behind mastering this beauty. And the truth is, the science doesn’t really exist. We will never fully know how to perfect our masterpieces. We will never really know with certainty what we should reach for, and what we should let slide past us, like a ship in the night.

All we can do is go with our gut. All we can do is take chances and make guesses. All we can do is cross out fingers and hope with all of our hearts that the choice we make will serve us.

Sometimes the worst of times leads to the best of times, but we never seem to really know it until it’s already happening. Sometimes the best of times comes to an end before we are ready to say goodbye.

Sometimes we wear our hearts on our sleeve, wanting to believe that the world won’t let us down this time. And every once in a while, when we do remove our armor, we find that life really does give us exactly what we both want and need.

Sometimes the heartbreaks last for a while, but they never last forever. Sometimes our hearts ache for a long time, but the pain always, without fail, subsides.

Sometimes the painful times pave the way for the most beautiful of times. Sometimes the heartaches and the losses make space for spectacular discoveries and for unexpected miracles.

And every once in a while, the universe winks in our direction, and sends us a little sign that reassures us that everything is going to be okay after all. Thought Catalog Logo Mark

“there can be magic in the messes” @apeaceofwerk

Keep up with Colleen on Instagram, Amazon and linktr.ee

More From Thought Catalog