Reflections on destruction and renewal
Warsaw, a city that’s literally rebuilt itself from the ground up, still stirs up strong feelings. Recently, I watched a video—maybe it was drone footage or something from Google Earth—that captured some of Warsaw’s landmarks. It was a beautiful look at the city, showing off all the places that make it special.
But the comments under the video surprised me. Many people, likely other Poles, were sharing mixed feelings about the city’s rebirth. Some invited viewers to come see Warsaw’s resilience, while others reminded everyone of the deep scars left by its destruction. There was pride in their words but also a touch of sadness—a reminder of just how much this city has been through.
Driving through Warsaw today, I can’t help but feel amazed by the energy around me. There’s a kind of rhythm to the everyday life here, from the busy street cleaners to the thriving shops, the layers of infrastructure, and the bustling communities. This all makes me think about how resilient we are as humans.
We seem hardwired to rebuild. Even when things are torn down to bare ground, we start again, often quickly. It doesn’t take much to put life back together. And now, with a war just beyond our border, there’s a sobering reminder of how fragile this peace is—and how quickly the world can change.