Making Peace

I was talking to my friend, giving them good advice when I heard myself say: “I’d like you to help me make friends with Natasha. Our animosity has been growing more and more and she has ceased to be human for me. She has become an archetypical enemy. Our connection has become old and stuck in its tracks. I need to find a way to transform our relationship from enemies to friends.”

And then I heard myself say: “But you know what, to do that I don’t really need her consent at all. In order to make peace with her I have to be kind towards her, treat her kindly, with respect and an open heart. I need to remember that she is a person with imperfections just like me, and keep a sense of humor while at it. And if she does not respond in kind, all I have to do is keep going back to my heart and keep focusing on being at peace no matter what her reaction is. When she becomes friendly towards me, I would invite myself to look around and see who else is my current archetypical adversary, and start being nice to them as well.”

“I hope” I said to my friend “that on my death bed I will know that I have taken care of as many enemies as possible and transformed them into friends without having to negotiate terms with them not even once”. We both smiled. He said to me: “You know you will forget your resolutions soon enough, and you will see the enemy masks now and then”. “I know” I said, “They even say, that after such a breakthrough in consciousness the animosity seems more intense than ever.

I vow to remember, even while forgetting. I vow to leave a spark of love and humor in the midst of my confusion”. “That’s wonderful,” my friend said. I closed my eyes and visualized my heart open, as if after a surgery. It was red and bright, vibrant and lively. I saw myself as if I was recuperating from an open heart surgery, after a piece of metal was removed from it – a piece that stood between me and my new understanding. My breathing became easier and deeper, my eyesight turned sharper and noticing more details, the sounds were music to my ears – making peace seemed as a very pleasant state to be in.