Burning Beneath

The word acknowledgment carries immense weight. It is not just a simple recognition—it is the affirmation of existence itself. Without acknowledgment, do we truly exist?

To be seen. To be heard. To be witnessed. This is the essence of being human. Each of us carries an intrinsic need for validation, not in a shallow or self-indulgent way, but as a fundamental confirmation that our presence in this world matters.

Acknowledgment takes many forms. A marriage is, at its core, an acknowledgment of love and commitment. A birthday is an annual recognition of life and growth. A graduation, an award, even a simple ‘thank you’—these are all affirmations that we are here, that our journey is real, that our steps leave imprints. Even history itself is an act of acknowledgment, preserving what came before so that it is not lost to time.

Without acknowledgment, we fade. Not physically, but in essence. To be ignored, dismissed, or unseen is to feel erased. A life unrecognized is a life that feels unanchored.

So perhaps the question is: How often do we acknowledge others? How often do we see, hear, and witness the people around us—not just on birthdays or milestones, but in everyday moments? And just as importantly, how often do we acknowledge ourselves?

Because in the end, acknowledgment is more than a gesture. It is the foundation of connection, of belonging, of truly being.