# The Quiet Act of Demarking

## Marks We Carry

Life etches lines on us without asking. A harsh word from years ago lingers like ink on skin. Expectations from others become tattoos we didn't choose. Even small disappointments—missed chances, faded friendships—leave faint traces. These marks shape how we move through the world, sometimes weighing us down, other times defining who we think we are. They are not always visible, but we feel their pull, guiding our steps in familiar grooves.

## The Choice to Erase

Demarking starts with noticing. It's a gentle decision to lift those lines away, not with force, but with patience. Imagine wiping steam from a window to see clearly outside. We pause in quiet moments—during a walk, a deep breath—and release one mark at a time. Forgive the old mistake. Let go of someone's label. Rewrite the story we tell ourselves. No grand ritual needed; just the steady hand of acceptance. In this unmaking, space opens up.

## What Remains Revealed

Beneath the marks lies something simple and true: our unadorned self. Free from the clutter, we connect more deeply—with people, with the present. Colors brighten. Conversations flow without old defenses. Demarking isn't about perfection or blankness; it's reclaiming the canvas for what matters now.

- Release one grudge today.
- Notice a label and question it.
- Breathe into the space left behind.

*In demarking, we find not emptiness, but room to begin again.*