Instructions for Disappearing

Instructions for Disappearing

Have you ever felt this desire, deep in the night,

To no longer be seen, no longer be followed?

Not to flee, no — just to take a breath for a moment,

To find yourself again, away from the world, away from the turmoil.

1. Choose your refuge, the one that speaks to you,

A place where your heart can finally breathe.

Maybe an old bench beneath a sick tree,

Or that forgotten path where no one passes by.

Close your eyes, imagine this calm place,

Where you can lay down your fatigue, your pain.

2. Slowly unplug from the endless noise,

Turn off that phone that demands your soul,

Pause the conversations that swallow you whole,

The notifications pulling you in a thousand directions.

Let the space around you become empty,

A silence where you can finally hear your breath.

3. Welcome solitude without fear,

I know, it’s not always easy,

But for now, it’s your faithful companion.

Speak to it like an old discreet friend,

Who won’t judge you, who hears without words.

In this calm, discover forgotten thoughts,

Hidden dreams you never dared touch.

4. Don’t carry the weight of others’ gazes alone,

Let go of judgments, expectations.

You don’t have to be perfect, visible, strong.

It’s okay to want to disappear for a while,

To come back lighter, truer.

5. Erase the traces you leave everywhere,

Don’t keep those old unread messages,

Don’t leave doors ajar, threads hanging.

Be like a gentle breeze,

Unnoticed, soft, passing quietly.

6. Remember: disappearing is not forgetting,

Nor abandoning those you love, nor forgetting yourself.

It’s a courageous choice, an act of love toward yourself,

A moment when you give yourself the freedom to breathe,

To rest without always having to run.

7. Prepare to welcome fragile peace,

That shy softness that comes when all falls silent.

Maybe a little sadness too, that’s normal,

But in this emptiness something precious is born:

A chance to be reborn, to be more whole.

8. And when you are ready to return,

Don’t rush, take all the time you need.

The world will always be there, sometimes a little noisy,

But you will have found your breath, your center,

You will be stronger, because you knew how to disappear.

Do you feel this invitation? This breath of humanity, this silent dialogue with yourself?

Disappearing is not fleeing, it’s an inner journey —

A gentle return to yourself, a necessary pause, a choice of love.

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