It has taken me some time to finish this write-up.
Originally, I intended to start it like this:
For Coffee with John #132, I spent a balmy afternoon with two talented and beautiful souls, Sydney Duarte and Treazy Treaz. They are staples in the local art scene, known for community-building initiatives that promote “unity through art and creativity.”
At the center of their work is the Piece for Peace movement—a call for people to create, in any form, an art piece that exemplifies peace or the TAOH (The Awakening of Humanity) symbol. Our conversation zigzagged from topic to topic as they showed me around the TAOH Outdoor Gallery on N. Brevard Street, an open space that welcomes anyone to paint, sculpt, or build, regardless of skill level...
That is where I left off before life threw a sucker punch that knocked me off my feet.
In the aftermath, I struggled with how to finish this. I had originally wanted to write something poetic in response to Treazy’s question about my biggest takeaway from this project. I wanted to talk about embracing the ups and downs of life as a gift—a grandiose message about “suffering as sacred.”
While I was reeling from the knockout, my reaction was: “Screw that. Life is not fair.” I wanted to lash out, cry, and throw in the towel. I wanted to discard this entire eight-year journey.
But the fight is defined by how you show up in the arena. I had to gather my thoughts and focus. I had to remain composed and not let the weight of the moment break me.
Perhaps because I am on the other side of it now, I can sit here and say that I still believe whatever life throws at you—the good, the bad, and the ugly—is a gift. Our suffering is sacred. It shapes us, strips us down, and, if we let it, points us back toward what truly matters.
Looking back on the time I spent with Sydney and Treazy—the space they’ve built and the stories they’ve chosen to keep telling—it becomes clear that showing up is the answer.
Showing up. Not without pain. Just showing up. For others. For ourselves. For our communities. Showing up when you can’t see through the blood and tears, while the punches are still coming, and you feel you are losing control of a situation you never truly had control over in the first place.
The path will knock us down. The challenge is whether we get back up and keep walking without letting resentment, bitterness, or sadness become the only story we tell about ourselves.
Coffee With John 