There will come a moment — an ah‑ha moment — when everything stops. Not literally, not like when Superman flew around the Earth to reverse time and save Lois Lane. More like the quiet kind of stop, the kind that happens when you suddenly understand something you’ve never understood before. When the truth finally clicks.
Not long ago, I had one of those moments. A breakthrough so sharp I actually said out loud, “Why the hell didn’t someone tell me this before?” And then, of course, my brain did its own Superman routine, rewinding time, taking me back to the exact moment someone did tell me… and I just wasn’t ready to listen.
The specifics don’t matter, but imagine being warned the stove is hot before you even know what “hot” means. If you don’t understand the danger, why would you avoid touching it?
So, now the challenge isn’t the heat — it’s what to do with the knowledge. Do I touch the stove anyway? Do I use a potholder? Do I turn it off? None of those feel quite right. I can’t ignore it, but I can’t pretend it isn’t hot either.
So, maybe the advice I’d give my younger self is this: You don’t have to understand the lesson the first time you hear it. You just have to stay open enough to recognize it when it finally arrives.
For now, I’ll soak my hand in cold water, take a breath, and try again — this time with a little more wisdom and a lot less fear of the burn.
Cover image created with Google AI … I mean you didn’t think I’d actually pose for a picture of me touching a hot stove, did you?
If this spoke to you, be sure to “like” and share it over social with someone who’d appreciate the flavor …
DISCLAIMER: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Nothing here is medical, nutritional, or therapeutic advice. Also, I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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