THE MAGIC OF EXISTENCE

Life is a beautiful experience, one that should be filled with joy. When I think about the fact that we are literally just meat sacks filled with bones and liquid, wandering a planet that sustains us, I can’t help but marvel at our existence. We inhabit a spinning rock floating in outer space, and yet we will all die. There’s something undeniably romantic about that, don’t you think?

We are not here by accident. Or maybe we are—perhaps we are God's children, or the result of a big bang, or part of a simulation where entities are playing a game of Sims with our lives. Whether you lean toward science, religion, a combination of both, or neither, the fact remains: you are here. 

Did you know that the chances of you being born as this specific version of you are approximately one in four hundred trillion? Let’s put that into perspective. Picture a planet-sized lottery ticket where every blade of grass, every grain of sand, every drop of water represents a number. Somehow, against all odds, your number was picked. That’s the science of you—a miraculous accident of timing, biology, and cosmic chance.

Your existence is no accident; you emerged as the combination of one single sperm out of two hundred and fifty million others, along with a single egg that is only fertile for about twelve to twenty-four hours each month. You had to be present at that precise moment in history, and here you are. Before you, your ancestors faced famine, disease, and war, each finding their partners in moments of magic that had to align perfectly for life to continue. I often ponder how humans chose to create jobs, money, mortgages, and stress when we inhabit a planet that sustains us and all other life. The vastness of life on Earth far surpasses our trivial worries. Nature is the most magical, intricate, expansive, and powerful entity we have. Yet we worry about the smallest, made up details. 

Take a single tree, for example. To the untrained eye, it may seem like a static part of the scenery, perhaps even overlooked as you hurry past it on your way to an important meeting. But if you zoom in, you’ll discover an entire universe teeming with life. The bark, which appears to be rough and lifeless, is actually a bustling metropolis. Tiny ants traverse its grooves, shiny iridescent beetles burrow tunnels, and soft green moss carpets its base. Microscopic fungi lace through the bark like invisible threads, exchanging nutrients and secrets with the tree itself. Each leaf acts as a solar panel, converting sunlight into life, while within its veins flows a constant rhythm of water and sugars—a heartbeat we cannot hear.

Just as humans share DNA yet remain unique individuals, the same applies to leaves. Each leaf has its own genetic code, leading to variations in size, shape, vein patterns, and edges. A caterpillar might spend its entire life on a single leaf, creating a microcosm of eating, growing, and transforming. Below the soil, an underground city pulses with life. Mycelium—the living network of fungi—comprises tiny thread-like structures that form the root system of fungi. This network, often unseen, exemplifies connection, cooperation, and resilience in nature. It binds ecosystems together, communicating and redistributing resources in ways that feel almost intelligent, connecting trees like the forest's internet. Trees communicate through these networks, sending warnings and sharing nutrients, even helping weaker trees survive. Mycelium will redirect nutrients to weakened or ill trees, functioning like an immune system responding to injury. These "acts of generosity" help preserve the collective health of the forest. Imagine: beneath your feet lies a web of cooperation that has existed for millions of years. The tree provides vibrant life—birds nest in its branches, singing songs and raising young; squirrels dart between limbs, bees visit for pollen, and owls tuck into hidden hollows. Even the tree’s death creates new life: decaying wood becomes sustenance for mushrooms, beetles, and worms.

You are here now and you too are a part of this nature. You have a body that sustains you, a brain that works to keep you safe, you have an entire system inside your body working to give you this life. You have red blood cells that are working hard to try to stave off any disease, all whilst you go about your daily life. You breathe all day everyday without even thinking about it. Maybe you are now thinking about it and it feels strange. Take three deep breaths in and out slowly and try to fill up your belly. See if you notice the difference from before and after you do this. 

When you zoom into a tree or a mushroom, you realize how small we are in the grand scheme of things. Our worries—the awkward email we sent, the embarrassing thing we did at that party five years ago, the phone call we’re afraid to make, the decisions, the shoes we can’t afford—shrink in comparison to these intricate, quiet lives. Nature shows us what really matters: cycles of growth, decay, and connection, emphasis on cycles and connection. If ants can build cities on bark and mycelium can create invisible forests beneath our feet, surely we can trust life’s rhythms and let go of what weighs us down. All of the things that give us anxiety and stress are things that you can overcome. The resilience of nature is unlike anything else and you too are nature, after all we are made of the same elements, just rearranged differently. Just like trees and animals and insects experience cycles of disease, seasonal changes and death, we too experience these. When we realize that life is cyclical we can begin to become more grounded in the knowledge that “this too shall pass”. There is no such thing as being happy for the rest of your life, there will be ups and downs and in-betweens where you will get to experience emotions, situations, connections, loss, love and learn as you go. 

The beauty of your lived experience lies in its very essence: you are the director, creator, narrator, costume designer, sound designer, and sole experiencer of your life. Your reality is entirely your own, shaped by unique feelings, traumas, and quirks that define you. Along this journey, you will encounter characters and cameos from others, each living their own individual experience—some kind, others cruel, many interactions so subtle that their uniqueness may go unnoticed. Just as you navigate life with your distinct perspective, every other person on this planet possesses their own individuality. No two people can ever experience the same moment in the same way. Even siblings raised by the same parents grow up with vastly different perspectives, as their parents navigate the constant evolution of life—its ups and downs, technological advancements, losses, and changes over time. Your experience is as unique as your fingerprint. Although we share 99.9% of our DNA with each other, it’s the remaining 0.1% that makes you who you are. Each person inherits half of their DNA from each parent, but the way those genes combine is entirely random. The odds of anyone else having your exact genome are 1 in 70 trillion—essentially impossible.

Everything about you—from your DNA to the freckles on your skin to the way your mind connects ideas—has never existed before and will never exist again. You are the universe’s once-in-a-lifetime experiment, wrapped in stardust, carrying a unique imprint only you can share. The odds of your existence are so staggeringly small—1 in 400 trillion—that it’s hard to fathom. You are a miracle, shaped by randomness, biology, and the life experiences that are solely yours. Yet, while you are utterly unique, you are also deeply connected to everything around you. We exist within systems—natural, social, and cultural—that both unite us and shape our identities. Just like the mycelium networks beneath forests, we are part of something larger. Trees communicate through these systems, sharing nutrients and warning of danger, helping one another thrive. Similarly, we are connected to our communities, the Earth, and the people we meet. The families we are born into, the education we receive, and the cultures we inhabit create frameworks of expectations and roles. While these systems can nurture us, they can also suppress our individuality, pressuring us to conform or follow paths that don’t resonate with our true selves. We also share universal experiences—love, loss, joy, and growth—connecting the tapestry of humanity. Your journey is uniquely yours, yet the emotions you feel and the challenges you face are part of what it means to be human. Understanding this is where the magic happens: recognizing the systems that connect us while allowing our individuality to shine through.

It’s easy to lose yourself in the currents of life, swept along by societal expectations, pressures, and fears. Without realizing it, you may find yourself, like I did, following a path that was never truly yours—measuring success, happiness, or self-worth by someone else’s standards. But when you pause, step back, and see the systems at play, you unlock the power to choose. To shake off the narratives that don’t serve you. To step outside the script and reclaim the freedom that was yours all along.

What do you truly want?

Who are you when no one is watching?

What makes you come alive?

These are questions we often avoid asking ourselves because the answers might demand change—a shift toward authenticity, a shedding of expectations, and a celebration of individuality. To frolic is to move playfully, joyfully, without care for judgment or outcome. It’s an act of rebellion in a world that tells us to be serious, careful, and contained. It’s a return to the essence of who you are—free, unique, and deeply connected to the world around you. Stepping into your individuality doesn’t mean rejecting the systems that connect us; it means understanding them so you can navigate life on your own terms. However, some choose to do this entirely, breaking away from the society they grew up in and relocating to a new place, city, or community that they believe aligns more deeply with their sense of self. Think of how many people willingly join groups or communities that promise love, safety, joy, creative and sexual expression, or a higher sense of purpose. There is a powerful pull toward the promise of something better, a utopia where life’s complexities are replaced with simplicity and connection. Humans are wired for belonging and crave connection so deeply that they often overlook the complexities within these groups. What many fail to recognize is that within each community, culture, or commune lies an entirely new set of rules, expectations, and hierarchies. These systems may initially seem liberating, offering a haven from societal norms, but they often come with their own structures of control. This is especially true in the case of cults, which thrive on this dynamic. Cults appeal to our desire for clarity and connection by presenting a unified belief system and a sense of belonging that fills the gaps left by broader society. They often promise enlightenment, healing, or a path to personal or collective transformation, drawing people in during moments of vulnerability. The allure lies in their simplicity—no more questioning or navigating life’s gray areas; the answers are handed to you. But these promises often come at a cost. Once inside, individuals may find their freedom to question or leave is subtly or overtly stripped away. The rules that seemed empowering at first can become rigid and oppressive. Dissent is discouraged, and individuality is eroded in favor of collective identity. While the promise of love and connection is genuine on the surface, it is often conditional on conformity. This isn’t to say that every intentional community or alternative lifestyle group is harmful. Many offer meaningful experiences and genuine opportunities for growth. But the line between connection and control is a fine one. To navigate these spaces authentically, it’s essential to remain aware of the underlying power dynamics, question the rules, and stay rooted in your own individuality. True connection isn’t about losing yourself—it’s about finding spaces where your individuality can coexist with the collective, not be consumed by it. It means embracing your uniqueness while honoring the shared experiences that unite us. When you know yourself—truly know yourself—you can choose the life you want to live. You can dance, play, and frolic freely through life, not because you have it all figured out, but because you trust yourself enough to enjoy the process. The truth is that no matter what you have been given in life of what setbacks you face, and I am sure most of you have experienced far more struggles than I have, you deserve to live the life that you want. To be joyful, to frolic freely and to experience love and safety.

So, here’s to you—nature’s one-time creation—learning to break free, shake off the noise, and write your own story. Because the world doesn’t need another carbon copy conformist; it needs you—bold, joyful, and uniquely alive. Let go of the “shoulds,” the “not-enoughs,” and the “what-will-they-thinks” that tether you to a version of yourself you never chose.