Czytaj książkę: «Let’s talk. Let’s think. Let’s be silent…»

© Artur Yakhin, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0067-8966-1

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

Let’s get started

Eating and not getting full

Eating and not getting full. Drinking and not getting drunk. I smoke but don’t get stoned. Isn’t that a portrait of love?

Love is a bottomless well of desire. It whispers of a hunger that even the finest feast can’t quell. Each meeting is just a passing snack, leaving behind a tart aftertaste of dissatisfaction. It seems that you are satiated with a look, a word, a touch, but immediately a new, even more acute hunger grows. A thirst to see, to hear, to feel again. It is an eternal call, an echo from which it is impossible to escape.

Love is a dried-up earth, thirsty for moisture. You drink the words, the promises, the looks, the hopes, but the thirst does not stop. Each drop is only temporary relief, and after that, more dryness. You are drowning in a sea of emotions, but your lips are still dry from unspoken feelings, from the fear of admitting your addiction.

Love is a smouldering coal that will never burst into flame. You smoke memories, dreams, hopes for the future, but the smoke does not dissipate, but shrouds you in a dense veil. It is an illusion of calmness, a brief moment of forgetfulness followed by an abrupt awakening. You know that the cigarette will burn out, and the ashes will remain only a bitter reminder of unfulfilled dreams.

And yet, despite this unquenchable thirst, this endless hunger, this vain attempt to satiate ourselves, we continue to eat, drink and smoke this love. Because even in this dissatisfaction there is a special, perverse sweetness. Because without this hunger, without this thirst, without this smoke, life seems bland, empty and meaningless. Love is a drug that is impossible to refuse, even knowing that it leads to death.

Thoughts about thoughts

Sometimes we analyse other people’s thoughts more than we think ourselves. This is the paradox of human communication, especially when it comes to one-on-one interactions. We long to understand the other person, to anticipate their reactions, to decipher hidden motives. But in this pursuit of understanding, we often forget about ourselves, our own feelings and needs.

When two people meet in the space of personal dialogue, a complex game of projections and interpretations begins. We endow our interlocutor with qualities that may not be inherent in him or her, based on past experience, prejudices, or just a passing impression. We build an image of the other person in our minds that does not always correspond to reality.

In this process, it is easy to lose touch with our own inner world. Attention is completely absorbed in analysing other people’s words and gestures. We become hostage to another’s narrative, forgetting our own. Instead of expressing ourselves sincerely, we adapt ourselves to the expected image for fear of being misunderstood or rejected.

True understanding is only possible when we find a balance between analysing the other and being aware of ourselves. It is important to listen, but it is equally important to hear yourself. Openly express your thoughts and feelings without fear of being vulnerable. Only then does dialogue become real and not just a game of simulated understanding. Otherwise, we risk getting lost in the maze of other people’s thoughts, forgetting our own path.

Thirst for knowledge

Caught myself thinking the other day. We all say that learning is light and unlearning is darkness. But it was our thirst for knowledge that drove us out of Eden. Ironic, isn’t it? The pursuit of knowledge, elevated to an absolute, resulted in banishment from Eden, a place of ignorance and blissful peace.

This dilemma permeates the entire history of mankind. From the myth of Prometheus, who stole fire for humans and incurred the wrath of the gods, to modern scientific discoveries, which often bring with them not only progress but also new ethical and moral questions. Each new knowledge is a step into the unknown, into a realm where old rules and morals may not be valid.

And yet, is ignorance really preferable?

Priority

You break your own heart when you prioritise someone who doesn’t have you as a priority. This bitter truth penetrates your gut like a shard of broken mirror, poisoning joy and hope. We, social beings, need recognition and love, a sense of our own importance in the eyes of those who are dear to us. But what happens when this need remains unsatisfied, when we put our heart into the relationship, and in return we receive only coldness and indifference?

Gradually, day by day, we begin to lose ourselves. Our self-esteem drops, our confidence melts, and we increasingly doubt our own worth. We begin to fit in, to please, to try to earn attention by sacrificing our own interests and needs. We hope that if we are good enough, considerate enough, loving enough, we can make a difference, make the other person see our worth.

But the truth is, it’s impossible to make someone love us. Love is a gift that cannot be earned or begged for. And when we spend our energy trying to woo a person who has no interest in us, we only empty ourselves. We give him everything we have without getting anything in return.

In the end, we are left with a broken heart, disappointment and a sense of deep injustice. It is then that we realise that we are to blame for our own pain. We ourselves have allowed ourselves to prioritise a person who doesn’t value us. We ourselves have given him the opportunity to break our heart.

But the good news is, we can change that. We can stop wasting our energy on those who don’t deserve it. We can start valuing ourselves, loving ourselves, and prioritising ourselves. We can surround ourselves with people who see our worth and love us for who we are. And then maybe we will find true love – a love that is mutual, sincere and happiness-giving.

The light within you

The light inside you should be independent, not lit up with the appearance of people, so that when they leave your life, there is no darkness in you. This inner light is something that you create and maintain yourself, like an eternal fire, unquenchable and warming. It is a reflection of your values, beliefs, passions, everything that makes you unique.

Many people look for this light externally, relying on others as a source of energy. But such reliance is dangerous. When the source disappears, the light goes out, leaving only emptiness and despair. Remember that other people can supplement your light, amplify it, but should not be its only source.

By lighting your own light, you gain freedom. Freedom from other people’s opinions, evaluations, expectations. You become your own support, your own compass. And even in the darkest times, when it seems that the world is collapsing around you, this inner light will light your way.

Awareness of your unconsciousness

Realising one’s unconsciousness is a paradoxical but profound state. It is the moment when an individual suddenly realises the limits of their knowledge, understanding and perception of the world. It is not simply an admission of ignorance of a particular fact or concept, but a realisation of how vast the field of what is yet to be known is.

Recognising one’s lack of awareness opens the door to true learning and self-improvement. It encourages one to ask questions, to explore new horizons, and to seek deeper understanding. It frees you from the shackles of preconceptions and allows you to view the world with greater openness and curiosity.

Lines on the pavement

As children, we jump over the lines on the pavement, trying not to touch them. But some people try to jump all their lives. And end up bumping over everything…

Emptiness or heaviness

Why is the heaviest feeling in the soul an emptiness?

Emptiness in the soul is not just the absence of emotions, it’s more like their paralysis. It is when the world around you continues to live and sparkle with colours, but inside you is a scorched earth where nothing grows or responds. It’s like an echo that doesn’t reflect off the walls because the walls are gone.

Unlike pain, anger or sadness, which, although they cause suffering, show that you are alive and able to feel, emptiness deprives you of this possibility. It is like a vacuum that sucks the life force out of you, leaving only a shell capable of functioning but unable to rejoice, wonder or compassion.

The heaviness of emptiness lies in its formlessness. You can’t grasp it as a concrete problem and begin to solve it. It spills over your whole soul like a colourless paint, hiding everything else underneath. It’s a state where you know something is wrong, but you can’t identify what it is or how to fix it.

Therefore, emptiness in the soul is not just a sad state, it is a challenge. It is a signal that something important has been lost or misplaced and that you need to look for ways to restore inner peace.

Footprints in history

Many people want to leave their mark in history. But alas. Many leave only a pile of…

Fear of death

Fear of death is the stupidest thing. Walking in the rain, sooner or later you get wet. And the point is not to hide under an awning all your life, afraid of getting wet, but to enjoy every moment of this rain, to feel its freshness on your face and to realise that even after the strongest storm the sun always looks out.

Weather and people

There is no such thing as bad weather. There is inappropriate clothing. And so it is with people. There are no bad people, there are only unfortunate moods and moments.

Frames

Man lives his frames. And wants to spread them everywhere. Even where it is absurd.

A step

Focus on the next rung, not the whole ladder

This phrase is not just a beautiful slogan, but a profound principle that applies to many areas of life. Often when we look at a massive goal, we feel awe and even fear of the sheer amount of work involved. The mountain seems impregnable and we are paralysed by the thought of how much effort it will take to conquer it.

Instead of drowning in these thoughts, it’s worth shifting our focus to the nearest step. What can I do right now? What small action will bring me closer to my goal? By breaking down a global goal into small, doable steps, we make it more real and achievable.

Embrace

The wider you open your arms, the easier it is to crucify you. In this phrase lies the bitter irony of human relationships. A generous soul, ready to take the whole world in its arms, often becomes the most vulnerable target. Openness, sincerity, willingness to help and support – qualities that seemingly should cause only gratitude, in fact, can turn against you.

People who see you as a source of unconditional love and acceptance sometimes begin to take it for granted. Your willingness to forgive and understand becomes an excuse for their own mistakes and weaknesses. And the more you give, the more they expect from you, without thinking about your own needs and boundaries.

When you, tired of the burden of other people’s problems and expectations, decide to cover your arms a little, you are immediately accused of selfishness and betrayal. Those who are used to taking advantage of your kindness feel cheated and disappointed. And then, as if in an ancient tragedy, a generous soul is crucified on the cross of other people’s resentments and unrealised hopes. Therefore, when opening your arms, do not forget to protect your heart.

Youth of the soul

Youth lasts a moment many say, but for me it is a state of mind. It is not just a period of life marked by certain years, but rather an inner spark, a fire in the eyes, an unquenchable thirst for new things and faith in one’s own strength. Youth is when the world seems limitless and opportunities seem inexhaustible.

When physical youth gives way to maturity, the youth of the soul remains with us, reminding us that the boundaries exist only in our minds. It is the ability to be surprised by small things, to rejoice in simple things and to remain open to the world, even when it becomes complex and unpredictable.

Youth of soul is acceptance of challenges, readiness to learn and change, not to be afraid of mistakes and to learn from them. It is the ability to see beauty in imperfection and to find meaning in every day. It is the ability to love and be loved, to give warmth and support to others.

It does not matter how old you are, what matters is how young your soul is. Keep this fire inside you, and then life will always be filled with bright colours, new discoveries and unforgettable impressions. Youth of the soul is an eternal engine that leads us forward, to new heights and new dreams. This is what makes us truly alive.