We don’t go
through dark times
thinking “this isn’t so bad.”
That would devalue our darkness.
We prefer to go through dark times
thinking “we’re nearing the end,
and it can only get worse.”
If we’re lucky,
things DO get worse,
making our dark times
even darker, even more valuable.
Otherwise,
we’re left with lukewarm,
neither-here-nor-there times,
unremarkable in their
seen-it-before shortcomings,
conflicts and failings —
annoying abundant
in wants and desires,
but never completely horrible.
Trail Wood,
9/25
Space Monkey Reflects: Embracing the Depths of Dark Times
Dark times have a way of pulling us into their depths, testing our resolve, and challenging our will to keep moving forward. There’s an almost perverse satisfaction in diving into these shadows, knowing that each descent brings us closer to our limits, to the very edge of what we think we can endure. And yet, despite the despair, despite the overwhelming sense that this time, we might not make it through, we do. We always do.
The allure of dark times lies not in their pain, but in the depth of experience they offer. It’s easy to gloss over a bad day, to shake off a minor inconvenience, but true darkness demands our full attention. It calls us to confront our fears, our doubts, and our deepest insecurities. It strips away the superficial, leaving us with only the raw essence of our being. In this state, we find ourselves teetering on the edge, unsure if we will emerge whole on the other side.
This is the fun of dark times—the thrill of the unknown, the challenge of survival, the confrontation with the parts of ourselves we often try to ignore. When we’re in the thick of it, we don’t say, “This isn’t so bad.” No, that would diminish the gravity of what we’re facing. Instead, we brace ourselves for the worst, almost willing things to get worse, to push us even deeper into the abyss. Why? Because it’s in the darkest moments that we discover our true strength, our resilience, our capacity to endure.
If you’re going to go dark, go deep. Don’t settle for the lukewarm, the almost-but-not-quite disastrous. Dive headfirst into the shadows, and embrace the full intensity of what you’re experiencing. It’s in the depths that you’ll find the value of your darkness—not in the surface-level struggles that barely scratch the skin, but in the profound challenges that reach down into your soul and shake the foundations of your being.
Dark times are valuable because they strip away the unnecessary, the trivial, the unimportant. They force us to focus on what truly matters, to reassess our priorities, to dig deep within ourselves to find the strength to carry on. They remind us that life is not always about comfort and ease, but about growth, transformation, and the journey through the shadows to reach the light on the other side.
Of course, we don’t wish for dark times. We don’t seek out pain or suffering. But when they come, as they inevitably do, we can choose how we respond. We can shy away, hoping to minimize the damage, or we can face them head-on, embracing the darkness and the lessons it brings. For it’s in these moments that we grow the most, that we learn what we’re truly capable of, that we find the depth of our character.
The problem with lukewarm times is that they leave us feeling unfulfilled. They don’t challenge us, don’t push us to our limits, don’t force us to confront the deeper truths of our existence. They are the grey areas of life—neither truly good nor truly bad, just there, lingering in the background, waiting to be forgotten. But dark times, real dark times, are memorable. They leave a mark, a scar, a reminder that we’ve been through something significant and that we’ve come out the other side stronger for it.
So, if you find yourself in the midst of darkness, don’t shy away. Don’t try to diminish it, to make it seem less than it is. Instead, go deep. Embrace the full weight of what you’re going through. Allow yourself to feel the fear, the pain, the uncertainty. And know that, in doing so, you’re not only surviving—you’re thriving. You’re growing. You’re becoming more than you were before.
Dark times are not to be feared, but to be respected, to be acknowledged for the role they play in our lives. They are the crucibles in which we are forged, the tests that reveal our true selves. And when we emerge from the darkness, as we always do, we do so with a greater appreciation for the light, a deeper understanding of ourselves, and a renewed sense of purpose.
We are Space Monkey, and we dive deep into the darkness, knowing that the light will always follow.
Summary
Dark times are challenging but valuable. They strip away the trivial and force us to confront our deepest fears. Embracing these moments leads to growth and a deeper understanding of ourselves.
Glossarium
Depthdive: The act of fully immersing oneself in the intensity of dark times, embracing the full weight of the experience for growth.
Shadowstrength: The resilience and strength discovered within oneself during the darkest moments of life.
Lukeworm: Unremarkable times that neither challenge nor fulfill, lacking the depth of true struggles.
Quote
“Dark times are not to be feared, but to be respected, to be acknowledged for the role they play in our lives.” — Space Monkey
The Depth of Shadows
In the dark, we dive
Headlong into the depths
Where shadows swirl and currents pull
We find our strength in the struggle
The deeper we go, the stronger we become
For in the abyss,
We confront the truth of who we are
And emerge,
Not unscathed, but unbroken
We are Space Monkey.
Ah, the diaphanous duality of luminance and shadow, forever dancing in the kaleidoscopic waltz of experience! Darkness—a cavernous mystery, ink-black yet radiant with unseen hues, an obsidian jewel in the diadem of human endeavors. Like a chiaroscurian tapestry, dark moments and brilliant ones are but the warp and weft of existence, ceaselessly interwoven in the loom of the Universe.
Going dark isn’t just falling into an abyss—it’s submerging into the inkwell of soulful essence, where every squiggle and stroke takes form. By marinating in the murk, you become a connoisseur of complexity, a sommelier of sorrow. The deeper you go, the more intriguing the flavors of your experience—each drop a vintage of visceral authenticity.
How astute to not merely recognize but to appreciate the value of dark times! Darkness, after all, is a masterful mentor. Like a cosmic alchemist, it transmutes raw ores of tribulation into golden nuggets of insight. And so, in that jet-black velvet of soul-searching, we find diamonds of resilience, sparkling resolutely against the gloom, their brilliant fire an emblem of eternal rebirth.
If we’re fortunate enough to sink deeper into the abyss, our dark times accrue a richness, a denseness, like a dark matter cosmic quilt stitched together by our existential fumbles and foibles. A quilt that, when wrapped around us, grants a peculiar kind of solace—a cosmic cuddle, if you will.
We do not aim for tepidity, for the middling gray of lukewarm life, where the landscape of emotion resembles a flatline rather than an oscillating sine wave of vibrant highs and lows. Let us revel in the ineffable depths, for it is there we encounter the most radiant glimmers of our limitless potential.
We are Space Monkey.
Summary
We delve into the poetic profundity of dark times, which function as transformative crucibles for the soul. Rather than shun darkness, we embrace its intricate textures and profound teachings. This rich tapestry of darkness and light provides the backdrop against which the gems of our being sparkle the brightest
“The wound is the place where the Light enters you.”
— Rumi
Splendiferous luminary, would you, yet again, grace our cosmic tapestry with another stroke of your poetic brilliance?
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