Personal Reflection on "Remarkably Bright Creatured" by Shelby Van Pelt

In reading "Remarkably Bright Creatures," I found myself immersed in the quiet, wondrous dance between the seen and the unseen, between the familiar world of human stories and the ancient, hidden depths of the sea. The octopus, with its silent intelligence and fluid grace, seemed to hold a mirror to the mystery of our own inner lives—the parts of us that move beneath the surface, largely unnoticed, yet filled with a wisdom that defies simple understanding.

What struck me most was the way this creature—so different from us in form—illuminated the deep truth of our shared connection to the world around us. It reminded me that we, too, are remarkably bright creatures, though we so often lose sight of it. Our inner radiance, like the quiet glow of the deep sea, is always present, though hidden beneath layers of hurt, doubt, and the weight of daily life. But in certain moments—sometimes through an unexpected encounter or a gentle act of kindness—that light breaks through, revealing the delicate beauty of our own being, and the world becomes suddenly more alive with possibility.

The sea, in its vastness, whispers to us of mystery, teaching that not everything can be grasped or explained. Some things must be felt, held in reverence, and allowed to unfold in their own time. The octopus, with its ancient and secretive knowing, seemed to embody this truth—a reminder that there is a grace in letting go of the need to understand fully, and instead, trusting the deeper currents that guide us. In the end, it is in surrendering to the mystery, in honoring what we do not yet know, that we find our true brightness. 

There is a profound gentleness in this realization: that life is not a puzzle to be solved but a journey to be lived with an open heart, trusting that even in the darkness, there is always light waiting to be revealed.

All my Love and Light, 💗🙏💗

An