Love Is All We Need

I always felt like life ought to have larger meaning than I'd ever be able to attribute. Raised in a former Soviet republic by a single parent whose primary, righteously so, goal was to build my character - with utmost morals, good marks, great ethics, perfect behaviour, classic literature and a life goal to achieve. Time wasted was a sin. Beware of idle! This motto, engraved in my mindset, ruled my life marathon never letting its muscular arms off my back. Never stroked, rather whipped. Take it easy, relax and chill, lay back or even stop and smell the roses were foreign idioms I wouldn't know how to apply. "Living for myself" sounded like an oxymoron. And "Love is all we need" wasn't the ground I walked on as a child. Pristine and pragmatic were my compass directives that sharpened my common sense (turned out not to be that common). A very handy trait. I now dare to impart on my mom what dear life taught me: love is the most powerful sense, taking time to express it is never idle, taking it easy saves the heart beat, and smelling the roses brings out the fragrant presence of Now, all we have. I love you, mom. February 9, 2023