'Why bother?' I heard a friend say that only recently. And couldn't get my mind off those words. When he said that he was not in a friendly mood... to himself, that is. Apparently something was bothering him. So maybe in frustration or irritation he uttered those words out of despair or surrender. I didn't try to find out those reasons because I thought it best that he sort it out himself. Besides he didn't seem inclined to reveal or consult or as the usual get it off his chest... as most people would.
But I thought again.
I think those words are so mean and unkind and unfeeling. Insensitive. 'Why bother' is like putting up a huge wall - a barrier - to keep out the 'unwanted' into your own 'hallowed' ground. Oh it's true that people have problems and that we are to mind our own business, or so we're told, if we are to keep our turf sane and safe. But that's just the big problem. We've been doing that for so long that we now have lost touch with feelings, emotions that go through the heart and mind of another person... who happens to be a human being too.
But why should we not connect with that anymore. Isn't it that whatever pain the other person goes through is so much the same as ours.. maybe only packaged differently? When he hurts, we feel that hurt - are familiar with it too because we've been through the same things before or are going through something like it in the present.
You know what, not everybody is very good at hiding his or her pain or difficulty... although they would certainly try. But it shows on faces, in the eyes, in the drooping mouth, in the silence of unspoken words that speak loudly. You can easily see through it all. Doesn't need a brilliant mind to do that.But you know something else more? It takes a human heart to bother to care and offer his helping hand to the other. It takes the best of a person to bother to take time to lift up a person when he's down in the dump. It takes a human being to care over another human being.So, bother... cos you'll never know when one day a person at the receiving end of your giving could be your own.
Have been through a lot in life. Yeah, life is tough. We get shoved, pushed, bashed to the ground, and every hurt you can think of comes to us. We try to fight back with courage, spirit, dignity, faith, and the will to survive. Sometimes we win, sometimes we don't. Life!
We hurt. We cry. We die to ourselves a zillion times over. is it worth it all?
Yes. A big YES to that. You know why?
Because all that is not for naught. Everything happens for a reason. Oh sometimes that reason may not be clear to us now. But later when time allows us to look back we begin to understand and become glad for everything that we went through.
Pure gold is tested through the fire. So much the same with a human being. We come out wiser, stronger, more courageous, enterprising, determined, smart, and so much more after having gone through the trials and difficulties of our lives.
How else would or could we have gained all that? Look at yourself now and see the difference. Honestly, it's not all about hurting... it's all about gaining too.
We don't have all the time in the world. We know that. Still we waste time with non-nonsensical things that edge out those which we should be paying much attention to. Time really does fly. Today goes by so swiftly that at the end of the day we wonder just where it all went.
There's so much we want to do... with our lives, with people, with things and stuff, with the world. But we wait for the right time, the right moment or perfect moment to do it. Why oh why?
There is no perfect time, no perfect moment, no perfect person, no perfect reason. You have to create that now with who you are, what you have, what you can. Because it is all in there in your day. You work with it. Put it to work.
It's often said that taking care of your todays -- will take care of your tomorrows. Isn't that just the best reason for it?
Your today is waiting.
That all depends on you, me, or the other fella. It's how we look at our day or time or circumstance. And too on what things matter most to us. If we put all our expectations for happiness or joy on external reasons, then we won't be able to stand being by ourselves. If we're not so centered in our core --- understanding who and what we are and respecting that --- there won't be anything to draw from when alone hits us.
On the other hand, being content simple and positive will actually keep us on an even keel. It wouldn't matter if we're alone to comprehend the universe or retrospect on the meaning of our existence. Might even be such a fulfilling experience. Far from being lonely. In fact, there's so much joy in discovery.
Keep an open mind and a gentle heart open to the wonders of life and living. Alone needn't be lonely.
