We are coming up on a big transition. In a few months, we will be leaving our lovely life in Argentina. We have been here for almost 3 years. In thinking about the move, I have been romanticizing Buenos Aires, thinking about all the lovely and wonderful parts about the city and my life here. But when something goes wrong or I am reminded about the frustrating parts of the city, I feel betrayed like all of that positivity was a lie.
But when I step back, I recognize that the truth is Buenos Aires can be both beautiful and frustrating and to love it means accepting both sides of it, not just the one that please me.
So, by being present for the not-so-fun parts of living in BA, I can also acknowledge that I am looking forward to moving back to the US. And the beauty is that one does not cancel out the other. My excitement for moving does not discredit the joy I have felt living here and vice versa.
Through all of these explorations, I am learning that in order to understand the real truth of life - or of a place, a person, or even ourselves - we have to accept and acknowledge everything about it, both the lovely parts and the difficult parts. We can experience both joy and sorrow, both realities, at once. They are not mutually exclusive. There is not a dichotomy of truths. It is all one. Both are important to feel and honor.
It is similar to love. We will be hard pressed to love someone (or ourselves) if all we can see is what is wrong with them. And on the other side of that, we cannot love only a part of someone that suits us, rather we must love and accept the whole person. We celebrate their entire being, not just half of it.
So, here's to seeing the real truth of all things and continuing to love, not in spite of the difficult things but because of them. <3