When you are young, and unthinkable things happen to you, or around you, you get worked up. You want to know why. Why did that person die? Why can that couple not conceive? Why did that sad old man live alone in that massive house? Why do some people live luxurious lives, and some people suffer quietly in their poverty? Why? Why? Why? Why does life not make sense?
And then as you get older, it seems that those incidents that struck you so deeply in your youth, are happening more and more. More of your acquaintances and friends even are being affected by pain, fear, loss at an ever increasing rate, and it seems that at a point some suffering in life is inevitable. And it is, isn't it? I mean, everyone goes through difficult times. That's life, right?
And because you witness and experience more heartache as you age, you try to block it a little. You stop questioning the reasons behind why some people have to go through some very difficult things. You answer your youths' questions. That guy died because he didn't take care of his health. That couple can't conceive because of medical problems, and there are so many people with those kinds of problems. That sad old man lived alone in that huge house because he was an impatient father and abusive husband and anyone who was ever dear to him left as soon as they could. Some people have luxurious lives and others don't because of where they started due to their family's vantage points and then, of course how hard they worked to keep afloat. And all the cutting hurts are rationalised away by logic. And you find that you don't notice the hurt and the pain as much, and it's easier for you that way.
But getting older, and growing thicker skin, and trying to cut out the pain and suffering so that it doesn't pull you under is also counter-productive. We need to be vulnerable to the hurtings of others. We need to show compassion for those that are anguishing and struggling. We need to look at the difficult situations around us with the eyes of our youth. We need to ask Why? again. If not for the sake of the hurting, then for the sake of our children. We need to teach our children to care about others, to show them that suffering is not a just and acceptable norm. We need to teach them to reach out to make a difference wherever they can.
2 comments:
Many people talk about living life fully or to the full, and they mean different things. To me it means grasp each moment and don't hold back - dance like nobody's watching, so to speak. When you laugh, do it from your belly tills your eyes water. When you hurt, mourn, cry until the sadness releases you. When you love, hold nothing back and let each statement be one you would be ok with if it were the last thing you said to the person you love. Life is short, too short to waste on half emotions, half truths and selfish emotions like anger, revenge, pride and bitterness.
How privileged we are to experience life with each other.
You inspire me J.
Your Man
That is so sweet.
Post a Comment