The Essence of Mortality: Nelson Mandela

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The Essence of Mortality

Even before I began to write this paper, the words have already scattered themselves throughout my mind. I believe I already know what I am going to say, to teach, to interpret. I have to take a few moments to allow all the energy to disperse and for all the chaos around me to settle into the darkness. My mind has literally spent countless hours already preparing for this single moment to lay the lyrics into stone, to allow the parchment to embrace the words. The serenity of aligning my focus on a single objective overcomes my mind, and the puzzle is solved and a feeling of enlightenment sparkles in my eye as a smile forms on my face. It seems out of nowhere the minutia is formed. It may surprise you, but I have already described the two factors of the minutia. Look back, you will see the word chaos. Chaos constantly burns in the world around us. There is really nothing we can do about it to change it, but to simply redirect the destruction around us. Focusing on it turns us away from the minutia, driving away the feelings of hope, almost to the point of despair. Now, look again. This time, hopefully, the word serenity has been seen, and stood out to you as the complete opposite of chaos. To completely reveal my minutia to you, I have walked you through confusion, perhaps even desperation as you searched for what my minutia is in its entirety. The small moments of serenity that I feel at the end of the day, full of success and accomplishments, knowing that I gave that day my fullest, this is my minutia.

Think back to last night, right before the depths of sleep rolled across your mind, and try to reimagine the feeling you felt as your soul embraced the safety of sleep. Even now, sitting...

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...in mind that you are only half way. You still have to climb back down.

Every day, I try to seek safety from chaos, even if it is just a moment of reprieve. As I mentioned earlier, faking having peace is not the right option, but taking a few moment of self-generated safety enables sanity, it is a necessity. Without these daily pauses we would become physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausted. We would drive those we care about and love away from us. It would add more fuel to the fire already burning so deep inside of you. Challenging the struggles and defeating them will bring around hope and courage, the foundation of serenity.

Works Cited

Feinstein, Sharon. "Nelson Mandela's Daughter Maki Tells of Her Beloved Father's Final Moments." The Mirror. N.p., 08 Dec. 2013. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.

Wilson, Cindy. Personal interview. 22 January 2014.

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