‘Longing’ is such a tender name for such a miserable state of being.

That is such a tender name for a miserable state of being: it evokes an ache deep within, the clutching of the heart in the fist of pain and twists it like a knife. Picture that moment of desire for something just out of reach-a loved one, a dream, or a moment lost to time. It feels as if someone has run a knife into your chest and then pulled it out with the same sudden movement, leaving you gasping for air, feeling raw. This painful longing is an emotional blow, like an empty hollow that seems impossible to fill.

When we long for something, we’re often confronted with a sense of emptiness. This painful reminder that we don’t have something can be hard to bear with. Longing is heavy, just like a burden on the shoulders, making even the smallest of tasks appear mountainous. And yet it may perhaps be that same feeling, one that lights a spark of hope. In it lies the beauty of desire: dreams take us forward, aspirations keep us alive.

Nostalgia is combined with longing, thus often adding to its bittersweet nature. It brings us back to the wonderful times, reminding us of warmth in a world that plays on our dissatisfaction now. When recollecting bygone moments, we often ache for moments that can’t be reclaimed. Such a longed for sentiment can lead to a deep sense of loss, through our inability to hold onto the passing times, just like grain sliding through our fingers. We chase after those moments, hoping to regain once more the happiness we had only to catch the glimpse to our darkness, cruel reminder of our present emptiness.

This cycle of longing and nostalgia leaves us feeling a little emptier every time. Every moment spent lost in memories takes a little piece of our spirit. We miss, not just what we want, but also the innocence and happiness we had in life. However, despite that pain we feel, yearn, and dream on. It is a proof of our strength and capacity for hope. We embrace our craving, knowing that it is part of being human, and that it is a constant reminder of desires, connections, and endless quests for fulfillment in an often partial world.