We Are One, From the Same Stream of Life

Everything will change tomorrow, if you want change. Everything will become better tomorrow, if you allow it to be better. Everything will be everything you ever wanted, if you want it.

Everyday I see people distinguishing other people for their differences. Differences are attacked and similarities are sheathed. It is in our nature to tribalised ourselves because for centuries, it is how we know how to survive. But what if I tell you that we were wrong and that we are 'one'? Cliche. I know. Got it from Lion King. Go figure.

As you're reading this note from your computer from a first person perspective, be duly noted that everybody else around you looks upon the world the same way. We all see the world as you do so how are we not 'one'. We do not see our own faces from this perspective, we do not see the color of our skin or our lopsided smile. What we see are other people and their skin, and their lopsided smiles.

The people around us are our true reflection, they share our conditions, concerns and virtues. You can argue that the mirror will show your reflection but the backside of the mirror is dark of nothingness. Are you dark of nothingness? You are a source of light and your reflection is also a source of light. But everyday we get dimmer and dimmer so the sun shines brighter and brighter.

Like the sun, our burst of energy is unpredictable. We shine brighter than others at different times. During chrismas, or raya, or diwali or chinese new year, our light shines the brightest but these celebrations are celebrated at different times by different groups of people.

At midnight tonight, we will all shine. We will all shine our brightest light ever, at the same time. We will all become One. Our collective light will resonate through everything and everyone, and through time too. We'll wake up next year with a lingering feeling of being connected by everything and everyone, everytime.

Because we are one, from the same stream of life.

Have a Bright New Year!

From yours truly,

Afiq Deen.


Stream of Life

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day

runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.


It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth

in numberless blades of grass

and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.



It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth

and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.

And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

-Rabindranath Tagore