The Journey is the Destination.

“The Journey is the Destination”
— Reminders from the past.

In my first class as a freshman undergraduate student at the University, we discussed ‘Colours’ and how to use them to enhance mood within a house.

In it they explained how there were this list of colours through which an Architect may design the interior of a household. They talked about colours as if they had complete power upon the inhabitants of the household; as if the architect could control how a person felt within a space they occupied.

Black was discussed as if it were a colour to be avoided, a colour explained by the Professor as ‘the absence of light’, I argued on the contrary that Black itself is also a result of the ‘absorption of all visible light’. A theory the professor felt unnecessary to further discuss.

Black — to me, is also a meaning for absolution and isolation. Through which we as humans can be protected. There’s evidence of Black being a protective source rather than a shattering one.

Blackness in skin makes us less prone to skin cancer, Black has the ability to heal.

Black is also seen as a colour of power — one of control. One of Justice, as a representation of law.

Whilst Blackness may seem like emptiness, people that find solitude in blackness are survivors. Isolation, like blackness, makes people uncomfortable. People like us, find it comforting.

Finding peace in solitude is an ability rare people possess.

I discovered the power of blackness when I was at the age of 16, and had to be forced out of school because of bad-behaviour and failing grades; furthermore as a result of unfair bullying by other students. The school had failed to protect me and hence I had to resort to my protective place, isolation.

As a result of which, I discovered what kind of person I wanted to be in this world and developed a personality that was not resulting from the outside world; but from within me.

Isolation allowed me the ability to excel beyond the capabilities the school had failed to see in me — my grades improved, my personality normalised, and I found the confidence within myself to pursue further education.

What I failed to realise over the years was that everything in the past had a destination that I was hoping to reach — much later did I realise that the destination was the Journey itself.

We often think the power of solitude is one that makes us stronger, what I hope to accomplish is that whilst one may choose isolation as a coping mechanism; behind all the blackness of the room that contains you — the hope that there is the presence of light that is awaiting you once you prevail from within the blackness that you’re surrounded with in times of trouble.

It is not often that most people ever get the opportunity of having a mentor and a guardian such as I did, who they can speak freely to and look towards in times of trouble and loneliness.

Your presence is one that doesn’t need an announcement to make itself known. Weak people often shout louder to make their voices heard in hopes that it may shield as a veil to all their vulnerabilities.

You aren’t amongst those people. As you feel no need to call for attention or raise your voice to make yourself heard and understood. The quality you possess is one that is not only rare but is contagious; you’re unique.

I understand nothing I say or do can ever make the pain you feel at the moment disappear and I will not try to make you feel better by saying things that have no meaning beyond gratitude.

What I will say is that you mustn’t suffer this pain alone, because sometimes the best thing a companion can do is stay silent and present. I’m always here to listen — if you feel the need to talk; even if you have no words to share.

Even Silence and Solitude can be shared and should be if one ever should feel the need for it.