Finding Inner Serenity: A Guide to Amado Ruiz Nervo’s “At Peace”
What if the secret to a happy life isn’t avoiding pain, but realizing you hold the pen to your own story?
At Peace
Amado Ruiz Nervo
Very near my setting sun, I bless you, Life
because you never gave me neither unfilled hope
nor unfair work, nor undeserved sorrow/pain
because I see at the end of my rough way
that I was the architect of my own destiny
and if I extracted the sweetness or the bitterness of things
it was because I put the sweetness or the bitterness in them
when I planted rose bushes I always harvested roses
Certainly, winter is going to follow my youth
But you didn’t tell me that May was eternal
I found without a doubt long my nights of pain
But you didn’t promise me only good nights
And in exchange I had some peaceful ones
I loved, I was loved, the sun caressed my face
Life, you owe me nothing, Life, we are at peace!
Finding Harmony: Why Amado Ruiz Nervo’s “At Peace” Resonates Today
Hello, friends! I am so excited to share a piece that has truly touched my heart. Amado Ruiz Nervo’s “At Peace” is a stunning masterclass in radical accountability and gratitude. In a world that often feels chaotic or driven by external validation, Nervo reminds us that we are the “architects of our own destiny.”
His message is incredibly refreshing for our contemporary society. While we often focus on what life “owes” us, Nervo celebrates the beauty of balance—acknowledging that while “May is not eternal,” the sweetness we find in life is often a direct result of the sweetness we choose to plant. It’s a powerful call to take ownership of our happiness and find serenity in our journey, regardless of the season. I love how he ends with such a positive declaration of closure; there is so much power in saying, “Life, we are at peace!”
As you read this poem, ask yourself:
If you were to “settle the accounts” with your life today, what beautiful roses would you realize you’ve planted for yourself?