They guided me through minefields that they imagined, insisting my identity be molded around their blood starved god who ruled the world with a cruel rigidity. This did protect me, in many ways, from the ignorant and arrogant people that surrounded me. But it didn't WORK.
i don't know what to do with the fact that someone can become important to me. i don't know how to love somebody without waiting for the day they get tired of me. i don't know how to let myself get comfortable without some part of me screaming that comfort is temporary.
i think of how folk songs, qawaalis, classical music, bhajans etc are the authentic source of language that has travelled centuries and has remained mostly true to its origin.
The technique matters, but so does the thought process: Recognise → React → Escape. In fighting, hesitation can be the difference between recovering your position and getting dumped on the floor. ⚔️ Train your reactions until the decision becomes automatic. A Cut Above.