Once, I planned to write about a Russian composer and pianist named Oksana. I had already met her, talked with her, and taken some pictures, so I thought I had everything I needed. But something was missing — there was no life in the material, no key component I could grasp. Suddenly, I realized what it was.
What was missing was Oksana’s husband, Alex. I clearly saw that Alex played a huge part in Oksana’s journey — in who she is and in what she creates. He is always in her shadow, yet he is a big part of her success. And I realized that if I wrote about Oksana, I had to write about Alex too. At that moment, everything clicked into place.
As the next moment unfolded, I had another vision: the unity of Oksana and Alex. How undivided they are. I couldn’t write about her without mentioning him. This realization made me think of something deeper. I realized that I belong. I belong to something bigger — a vast matrix of connection. A space of closeness filled with amazing, wonderful people. And all of these people want to be involved with me, to reach out and connect, to be together. This feeling sparked a fire inside me, and another insight came.
I realized what egotism really is. I believe it is a state of separation from that space of intimacy. Ego creates boundaries and limits that we build around ourselves, and these boundaries make us feel disconnected. To find our way back to that space — to that feeling of closeness — we must let go of these limits and merge back into belonging: into intimacy, into a release of fear for one another.
I was, and still am, stunned by this realization. It’s not that I never conceived of this idea before, but for the first time, it moved from something I intellectually knew to something I truly felt. It transformed inside me and touched my senses. For the first time, I fully realized what intimacy and Love really are, and I felt liberated.
I understood that intimacy is something all people want more than anything else. As we approach the end of life, we begin to remember the true value of being intimate with someone — on the level of pure and innocent love. Yet this physical world we live in can limit our minds and bodies if we don’t stay spiritually motivated and positive.
We must remember and live by the truth that we are all connected. This is not just a phrase to say lightly — it’s a truth to embody. When we live in this truth, the world becomes a more beautiful and inviting place. Everyone carries some feeling or belief that intimacy is real and approachable in daily life. Everyone searches for the key that unlocks the door. Many believe Love is that key — and I agree. Love may open the door to enlightenment, but only if our hearts are truly open. Unfortunately, many people fear being hurt, so their hearts remain closed. This leads to lives filled with fear and resentment, far from the beautiful, fulfilling life we deserve. We call many things Love, but often they are far from its reality. Trying to open a closed door with a closed heart only causes pain and more resentment.
Many believe intimacy is something that arises only between two people, like the common definition of Love. This limited view blinds them to the fact that intimacy is all around us. Closeness and unity are the essence of this world. We are already here, together, united and connected. There is no need to search for intimacy—it surrounds us. We only need to let go of the ego’s boundaries.
Our world is one. A united organism. One single entity, one thought, one breath. We are all in this thing called life together. We must support each other to survive and to thrive. This is the Deep Breath of God.
