The stars

The last letter of this year and a new poem.

Photo by Ray Gao.

The last days of December are flying by very fast, as I’m celebrating the holidays with my two families in Poland. I managed to get a cold, so lots of time is spent in the kitchens, drinking tea, talking, and sharing jokes and memories. Often, I catch myself thinking that these are the moments that I will remember for years. I take so many photos that the entire trans-Atlantic flight won’t be enough to sort them out. I wish my phone camera could capture the warmth of the hugs, the contagious joy of the laughter, the taste of homemade food, and the feeling of being together after long years of separation.

As we approach the end of this year, I want all of us to look back and think about the memories, dreams, and intentions we want to bring to the year ahead. While doing so, let’s remember those who fight and pay the highest price so we can live in peace and plan for the future. My New Year’s wish is the same as the last two years: victory and a just peace for Ukraine. More than anything, I want to see it come true.

Thank you so much for reading the words From My Heart! I'm so thankful for your support, for reading what I have to say, for sharing my writing with friends, and for your feedback. This year, our community grew to more than 2000 people, which overflows my heart with joy and gratitude.

Let’s resist isolation and powerlessness by staying connected to each other, and let’s fill the coming year with kindness, compassion, and action.

I want to finish 2024 and enter a new year with this poem:

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The stars shine especially bright this year
as too many people 
joined their ranks in the sky.
They look at us, wondering 
whether we are still fighting.
They don’t know 
that they became our orienteers 
in the darkest of nights.
How can we get lost 
when the best of us 
light our way from above?

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Warmly,

Darya

P.S.: I’ll send the next letter on Jan 11, as I’ll be taking a short holiday break to spend quality time with my loved ones. See you next year!

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Email: daryazorka@substack.com

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