The Second Dart

Life throws pain our way. That is the first dart. It might come through loss, failure, rejection, or disappointment. It stings. It’s real. And it’s enough.

But then, without meaning to, we often throw a second dart at ourselves. We replay the moment. We shame ourselves. We dwell. We judge. That second dart? It hurts just as much as the first. Maybe more. And the worst part? We are the ones holding it.

You don’t deserve that.

As Haruki Murakami once wrote, “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

The first dart is inevitable. Life will always come with challenges and pain. But the second dart is optional. It’s in your hands.

So if something goes wrong today, let it be wrong. Feel it, breathe through it, then let it go. Do not pick up another dart. Do not turn one moment of pain into a cycle of suffering.

Be kind to yourself. Forgive yourself. Let yourself heal.

You are worth that peace.