exactly one year ago my father died at the age of 58. this event has had an enormous impact on my life. since that happened, there is a Sjoerd before and a Sjoerd after. just like one year ago, i want to commemorate this here. around that time i had so much incredibly caring support from people here - something which i will never forget and which i am still very grateful for. so, this is for you.
so much happened in this year, and the process of dealing with grief is something which is hard and beautiful at the same time. hard, because it’s about dealing with the missing of a person who was the reason i even exist in the first place.
beautiful, because it was an extra stimulus to realize what i really want in life and to keep on pushing things forward, trying to live life in the best way i can imagine, trying to reach my full potential, grasping opportunities to grow, to learn, to develop - because life is only lived once, and can be very short if you don’t take notice of its beauty, but long if you try to keep on making yourself aware that personal fulfillment is the only route which should be acceptable.
grow.
love.
be conscious.
although these things may sound very obvious, they’re not. we are being lured into habitual life all the time, in which our daily routines prevent us from really experiencing the pureness that life has to offer at any given time. this hasn’t solely to do with ‘just’ happiness, it is the completeness that human experience has to offer us which is so beautiful.
life is rich. better recognize.
this shot was taken yesterday, when my mind was full of images and thoughts which were related to the intense experience i had in exactly these same days one year ago. i went out on my bicycle to feel alive, to let my mind be free to flow as it pleased - to be conscious of the _now_.
at first i wanted to post an image of my father in this place, but this seems more appropriate to me. this image is a symbol of the balance in life. the darkness is needed to shape the light. just be aware that there is never just darkness. as long as you are alive, there is an ability to make choices which are best for you. you know which they are - deep inside.
2087
turnnoffyourmind
kianamaiart
yousharknotpass
areudirty
izzy806
