About stars. 15

A path kissed by light—
Shadows flee as suns arise—
Brilliance warms the soul.

It was a late afternoon in early spring when I noticed how the light had changed. The shadows, once long and sharp, had softened. A gentle warmth lingered in the air, the kind that makes you pause and tilt your face skyward. The sun wasn’t in a rush to set; it hung low and steady, painting everything in gold. In that moment, I realized something simple yet profound: the sun doesn’t wait for permission to shine. It doesn’t hesitate. It simply rises, banishes the darkness, and gives life to everything it touches.

You are here to follow the sun. To trace its path with your steps, your thoughts, your choices. Life often tempts us to dwell in the shadows—the what-ifs, the regrets, the fears that keep us rooted in place. But shadows cannot exist without light, and to move forward is to embrace that light. It’s to seek warmth even when the cold clings to your skin, to reach for brightness even when it feels just out of grasp.

Following the sun means understanding that life’s journey is not linear. The sun doesn’t take the shortest route across the sky. It rises, arcs, and descends, painting the world in hues of change. And so do we. Our paths are not meant to be straight or predictable. They’re meant to twist, to stretch, to expand toward horizons we can’t yet see.

Sun

But following is not enough. You are also here to be the sun. To radiate warmth, to dispel shadows, to bring light to the lives around you. This isn’t about perfection or brilliance; it’s about consistency, about showing up even when it’s hard. The sun rises every day, regardless of storms or clouds. Its light doesn’t demand gratitude, nor does it seek validation. It shines because that is its nature.

Becoming the sun means finding your own light, the thing that makes you burn brightly from within. It might be kindness, creativity, resilience, or love. Whatever it is, let it shine unapologetically. Let it warm those around you, not to prove your worth but to fulfill your purpose. The world doesn’t need more perfection; it needs more light.

Shadows

To be the sun is also to confront the shadows—in yourself and in the world. Shadows are not enemies; they are reminders of where the light hasn’t yet reached. They show us where healing is needed, where growth is possible. By addressing these shadows with compassion, you expand your light. You make space for clarity, for truth, for connection.

When you drive away shadows, you don’t destroy them. You transform them. A shadow that lingers too long can feel like a weight, but when touched by light, it becomes depth, contrast, a necessary part of the whole. The sun doesn’t erase shadows; it dances with them, creating balance.

How to Live as the Sun

1. Rise Daily: Begin each day with intention. No matter how heavy yesterday was, rise again.
2. Shine Steadily: Let your light be consistent, not conditional. Offer warmth and clarity wherever you go.
3. Embrace Shadows: Don’t fear the dark corners of life. They are opportunities to grow and illuminate.
4. Seek the Horizon: Keep moving forward, even when the path is unclear. The journey shapes you.
5. Reflect Light: Like the moon borrowing the sun’s glow, reflect the goodness you receive back into the world.

The Wabi-Sabi Perspective

In wabi-sabi, the beauty of the sun lies not in its perfection but in its constancy, its willingness to rise even as it sets. A day is never flawless, yet every day carries the sun’s quiet promise to return. Your life, like the sun’s journey, is not about erasing imperfections. It’s about embracing them, letting your light shine through the cracks.

As the sun sets, it leaves a parting gift: the twilight, where day and night blend into something ephemeral and breathtaking. This, too, is your life. You are the sun, the twilight, the horizon. You are the warmth that melts the frost, the light that pushes back the dark, the spark that ignites others. So rise. Shine. And let your light transform the world.

That spring evening, as the golden light faded, I kept walking, my shadow trailing softly behind me. The air cooled, but the warmth of the sun lingered on my skin, a quiet reminder. I thought of the paths I’d yet to walk, the horizons I’d yet to reach. And I understood: to live is to follow the sun, to become the sun, and to keep the shadows in motion.