Bloom

This article is part of the Black Voices collection, an ongoing collaboration with Dalhousie Black Law Students’ Association.

Most of us, if not all of us, have experienced or will experience transitions in life that are far from easy. Losing friends, losing a loved one, losing a lover. Rejection after rejection in the pursuit of securing employment, chasing one’s dream or a lost sense of identity...these are all examples of the often difficult transitions we experience in this human condition called life. 

Navigating transitions

Very seldom do we know how to prepare for or navigate the difficulties that come with transitions. Perhaps, it’s something we don’t feel comfortable talking about, perhaps it’s something we are ashamed of. Perhaps it is something we are presently working through. Although there is no blueprint for life and navigating the experiences of life, I find great wisdom, solace, and insight provided by the natural world. 

In the patterns of life, I have observed that one of the great laws of life is the law of balance. It is my personal belief that in loss, there is always gain; in death there is always life; as above so below. In endings, there are always beginnings,  or so the story goes. It is the cyclical nature of life that helps me understand this occurrence. While all of this sounds meaningful and intentional philosophically, the practical application of transitions can often be much more difficult and confusing to navigate. 

When undergoing a transition or a loss, I have found the best advice to be the simplest: “just keep swimming”. Just keep waking up. Just keep trying your best. Just keep showing up. Just keep believing.

When you find yourself in the darkness, in the silence  When all that’s left to face is yourself  It is easy to think that you are being buried  But if you take a step back,  If you allow patience, love and kindness to nurture your wounds  You will soon realize that you are actually being planted  Like a seed fresh and ready to germinate So the next time that you feel that the darkness is too great a burden to bear, remember that you are being planted  Planted for greatness  And if you stay the course in due season, you will bloom

Preparing to bloom

Amidst everything, I have also found the greatest medicine to be gratitude. Smiling. Breathing in fresh air. Being appreciative and thankful of all of the beautiful things that go right in life. In moments of transition, but especially in moments of loss, it is very easy to focus on all of the things that weigh you down; the things that aren’t going “right”. Life does not ask us to have everything figured out, it never promises that everything will be perfect. However, what we can do is be grateful for the goodness that is present. There is a beautiful song by Jhené Aiko called “The Magic Hour,” and a special lyric that sticks with me is this... “it ain’t perfect, but everything is beautiful.” 

Life is not perfect. There will be loss, transitions, upheaval, disaster, pain, suffering, but there will also be joy, beauty, newness, connection, empowerment, peace. Who can understand the great mysteries of life? Perhaps it is not meant for us to understand but to simply experience... and to help others in their experience of life. 

If you yourself are going through a transition, witnessing a loss bloom into new life, I hope you can always remember that after the darkest storms, the sun shines and brings sweet rainbows along with it - this is the great balance of life. 

Do not fear the transitions of life, do not fear the unknown, do not fear. After all, as the poet Rumi put it beautifully... “the wound is the place where the light enters you”. 

Blessings and peace to you, 

Teiyana Cain