Part Three: What Remains by Staying in Stillness?

Part Three: What Remains by Staying in Stillness?

Three blackbirds

hang by an invisible red thread.

The first says,

“I must fly—I’m called.”

The second asks,

“Where will you go?”

The third says nothing.

How many remain?

Two.

The third

already gone—

Soaring above,

Past silence

Beyond words.

-YIK, 4.12.25

Life demands intentional pauses—moments of stillness that restore clarity and inner strength. Our world is noisy with distractions, enticing us back into familiar dramas and soothing illusions. Yet true freedom emerges from consciously stepping back: pausing, reflecting, beginning anew.

Practices like therapy, writing, and meditation cultivate grounded self-awareness. The point is not to avoid problems or pain; it’s accepting the uncomfortable reality that what we need is different from what we may want. To grow, we must follow the initial spark that ignited the fire within us.

Three blackbirds hang by an invisible red thread. One declares, “I must go.” Another asks, “Where?” The third bird responds in silence—already in flight, beyond words and hesitation. This is the essence of authenticity: not just talking about flight, but boldly taking it, facing loss and change head-on, and doing whatever it takes to stay true to our deepest calling.

Sometimes the deeper calling is simply waking up to what enlivens our hearts and minds, then taking the next best step while allowing for forgiveness, laughter, and play.