THE universe exists among numerous dualities—warmth mirrors coldness, love mirrors hatred, peace mirrors war, and light mirrors darkness. Most of these opposing forces cannot exist in their entirety without their counterpart, regardless of how unpleasant the latter may be. As human beings, we often spend our lives seeking meaning in the borders that separate these elements. Yet, despite our awareness of this balance, we strangely tend to forget the duality of certain ideas when they manifest in the experiences of our daily lives. In turn, this causes us to overlook just how complex life truly is.

With the advent of globalisation, the appeal of quick and productive connections has grown stronger among the younger generations. As a result, the information and stories we receive through the media have been condensed into their shortest, most impactful versions. While this shift has broadened our access to knowledge, it has also reduced the depth of our understanding. In simple terms, we often forget that one aspect of life cannot exist without the other. Because of this, we may fail to adequately prepare ourselves before facing the world as it truly is.

For instance, we are all familiar with the northern lights. The Aurora Borealis, known in Latin, is a stunning display of colourful lights that appears at certain times of the year in the skies near the North Pole. This breathtaking phenomenon has inspired thousands of years of myths, literature, and spirituality. In the past, the lights were associated with ancestral spirits, mythical creatures, and even good fortune. At present, we still view the northern lights as extraordinarily beautiful, but now we understand the scientific reason behind their occurrence.

The northern lights are the result of electrically charged particles from the sun being deflected towards the North Pole by the Earth’s magnetic field. These particles originate from the sun’s outer layer and become especially intense during solar storms. When they interact with the molecules in Earth’s atmosphere, energy is transferred to the gases present in the atmosphere, causing them to emit vibrant lights. The colours of the lights vary depending on the type of gas involved in the reaction.
While this phenomenon is visually captivating, it also serves a vital function—it reminds us of the protective role of Earth’s magnetic field.

Solar radiation, mainly from solar storms, can be powerful enough to destroy technology and harm living organisms on Earth. However, the presence of Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere shields us from these catastrophic effects. The northern lights serve as a small but powerful indication of this invisible protective force. Many people hear of the Aurora Borealis, and some even travel to witness it, yet few truly understand the deeper significance of what lies behind the mesmerising lights.

Every day, we are bombarded with stories of success—tales of great achievements and remarkable breakthroughs. Yet, we rarely hear about the sacrifices, struggles, and failures that paved the way for these triumphs. We are told about groundbreaking scientific discoveries, revolutionary innovations, and world-changing inventions, but we are rarely reminded of the countless mistakes and setbacks that came before them. The truth is, even when we are given all the details, we rarely take the time to absorb or reflect upon them.

Stories of success can motivate a generation, but only stories of failure and perseverance can teach them the difference between the right path and the wrong one.
Generation Z is extraordinarily skilled. This generation possesses the ability to rapidly absorb information and transform knowledge into action, impacting the world in powerful ways. However, there is an unfortunate tendency to see the world only in fragments without taking the time to understand its depth and dualities.

It is true that light always follows darkness, but if we focus only on the light, we may never learn to survive the darkness.`