In the past few weeks, I’ve felt a noticeable shift. Things have been getting better—in tiny, almost imperceptible ways at first, then all at once. It built up to a night I’ll never forget. I was lying down, slightly tipsy, surrounded by good people, and I had this simple, profound thought: Thank God I’m safe. I feel safe. I grabbed my pen and my notebook and start to draft this :
It wasn’t the Chouffe beer talking. It wasn’t the comfort of a cozy bed or the laughter echoing around me, not even the satisfaction to have ran with some friendly people. It was deeper than that. It hit me that feeling safe is not just a luxury; it’s the foundation of everything. It’s Maslow’s pyramid in action—the first level of it, the very base. Without safety, the rest can’t hold.
And yet, even in our supposedly evolved society, how often do we truly feel safe? Not just physically safe, like not having to look over your shoulder in a dark alley, but emotionally and mentally safe? Safe to be yourself, to express your opinions, to make mistakes without fear of judgment or backlash? It’s shocking how elusive that feeling can be.
But when it’s there? Oh, it’s magic.
That night, surrounded by people I enjoy, with no masks to wear, no battles to fight, I realized safety isn’t just the absence of danger. It’s the presence of calm. It’s the quiet in your soul that says, “You’re okay here. You’re not just surviving; you’re free to breathe, to exist, to enjoy.”
This moment of clarity made me think about how much we undervalue this feeling. We chase so many things: success, love, adrenaline, money, recognition. But none of that sticks if we’re not safe. How can you savor a win when you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop? How can you love deeply when you’re guarding your heart? How can you dream big when your mind is consumed with fear or anxiety?
Our modern lives don’t always prioritize safety the way they should. We’re bombarded by news cycles that make us feel like the world is falling apart. We’re scrolling through social media, comparing our messy lives to curated perfection, and wondering if we’re enough. We’re stuck in workplaces or relationships that make us second-guess ourselves. And sometimes, we’re just too damn busy to even check in and ask ourselves: Do I feel safe right now?
That night taught me to recognize safety as the anchor that holds everything else in place. It’s a feeling we should chase unapologetically. Not just for ourselves, but for others too. Imagine the gift of making someone feel safe in your presence. Think about how rare and precious that is.
So here’s my takeaway, and maybe it can be yours too: Protect your safety like it’s the rarest treasure. Prioritize the people, spaces, and habits that give you that unshakable calm. And when you find those moments where everything aligns, when you’re lying there, tipsy and at peace, surrounded by people who make your soul smile—soak it in. That’s life at its best.
Because safety isn’t just the first level of the pyramid; it’s the foundation of life.
— Arthur Benjamin Clément
Leave a Reply