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A good friend of many years was ranting on the phone apparently pissed
off by another friend’s behavior. She sounded hurt and angry. But to
know what to say to her I had to get to the bottom of it first, I had to
ask why. Well, if she called me then she would be willing to tell that
much, right? And so I asked.
The gist of the problem was that the
other friend didn’t respond positively to my friend’s dilemma as the
latter expected her to. To cut a long story short, the matter wasn’t
thoroughly resolved as I had found out later as emotions were still
running high on the emotional chart but at least she left our chat with a
few things which perhaps and I hope would help shed some enlightenment
or learning.
That can be quite a problem to many of us. We each
deal with the world and with life through our own eyes, understanding,
and perception. We heap on a lot of expectations on a lot of things.
That’s the human way as we’re often told. We see the world and people as
we are and not through somebody else’s eyes. Now that means there are
millions of --'as we are'-- out there colliding in this same world we
all share. But diversity in our world is an interesting and wonderful
thing as it lends color to our existence. Imagine without it how boring
life can be.
Yet that can also create a problem or two when it
runs against individuals who are typically diverse in character and
personality, when they unexpectedly find themselves in an unpleasant
situation one day. Like my friend had just experienced.
All
around us every day we see a continuing exchange or interplay of
everything that is human interaction.. such as diverse situations,
personalities, experiences, events, dealings, connections, relations,
associations and even so much more. We get so involved in it. It can be
quite overwhelming sometimes and can drain the senses down to low...
very low. Thus our coping engine will and would sputter or gasp or maybe
even breakdown. But as human flaw would dictate it we would lash out in
the only way we know how...through our emotions. I know because I do.
And experience tells us that in most cases it’s an easy formula to fail.
And so I have learned that life is not always about me. Nope, it’s not
about you either. It’s about us... trying to live this life in the best
way we can, individually and collectively, by truly learning to
understand each other....you have your own mind, beliefs, preferences,
and conditioning as I have mine, too. All is valid. Embrace differences
as we embrace likeness. Peace in the midst of such diversity can be
beautiful, too. That's worth trying for, don't you think so too?
Diversity... One of God’s special talents. Beautiful, isn’t it?
Here's something I saw online..... to quote (no author mentioned)
.
"If you feel hurt, angry or upset at the actions of others, realize
that every individual is acting according to his own mind, with its
prejudices, beliefs and conditioning. Each person would have acted that
way even if it were someone else instead of you. Thus, do not take
their actions personally."
Unquote.
.
Have a pleasant and blessed weekend, everyone. God bless you all.
---------------- .
This morning went out for my usual early morning walk. As I was
rounding the block and aiming for the hill... the rains came tumbling
down! Ohhh.. there goes my early morning walk, I thought as I
soft-jogged my way back to the house. And just when I was already in my
house dress Mr. Sun came bursting out from behind the gray clouds
shining brilliantly like he was enjoying the big joke he threw at me
just a few minutes ago! Oh well.. !!
Yesterday's .morning walk
was such a delight though. You would probably be thinking that walking
these same roads, neighborhood, and hill repeatedly for so long now
would have exhausted everything there was to see.
Maybe... or maybe not.
Things may look the same but not really.
Movement, Change, Birth. Growth. Decline.
Of such are the things of the earth and of life.
If you do not pay close attention, you will certainly miss its beauty,
wonder, joy..... or miss to be awesomely amazed by it all.
Like this plant I saw up the hill.... a huge leaf standing tall and erect with
its glistening young green color seemed to greet me with a huge "Hi
five!!". And I hi-5'd back at it, grinning. Buti na lang walang tao sa
kalye! 
:-D (Luckily there was nobody around that time of day!)
Not far from it stood this gorgeous flower ...once a shy tiny bud now
proudly showing off its dazzling brilliant color in full bloom. Movement
and change. It lends fresh color to the world.
Farther up
ahead, I saw (again) this cluster of huge mushrooms (remember my post
several months ago on the same mushrooms as large as my shoe?) ...but
this time several have grown black in color (decline)... as new fresh
ones sprouted nearby (birth).
Round the corner up ahead bloomed Birds of Paradise (thanks IC Guerrero
for the name) standing proudly in a cluster, too, on the shoulder of
the road. Birds of the same feather flock together, aye!? Just like
humans do.
Then a handsome dog caught my eye as I continued up
the hill. It appeared shut out of his human's home as he stood
patiently waiting outside the gate hoping that somebody would open it
and let him in. Just a thought here, if you can't take good care of your
pets... don't get one. Don't even think about owning one. Because
having a pet in your home is having another member added to your family.
Be responsible for it. Love it like you would your child. My family has
four dogs and eight cats. By the way, the word dog spelled backwards is
God. It's just a reminder that nothing in God's creation is
insignificant. Everything is .. for a reason. That means animals, too.
As I forced myself to walk past it (with a heavy heart), I came upon a
middle-aged lady who was sweeping that part of the street fronting her
house. When she saw me approaching she smiled a pleasant "Good morning!"
That took the gloom out of my heart as I smiled back at her and moved
on bouncing happily in my steps. Be generous with smiles; it can do
wonderful things.
Walking downhill I saw a friendly neighbor
who had a small bonfire going by the side of the road and under his fruits
trees (several more I could see in his yard). I stopped to say hello.
With a wide grin he said "Di ka talaga pumapalya noh?!" (You don't
really miss your morning walks aye?!) I smiled even more with "Pwera
lang kung umulan." (Except when it rains.) Stayed a few minutes more to
admire his fruit trees now bearing fruits to which he said I was
welcome to it anytime I wished so. Friends are the true treasures of a
neighborhood, a community, a town or city, a country or of the world.
They add to the spice of life and living with their own individual brand
of uniqueness and with their blessed contribution to humanity.
As
I neared my block and was just a few houses away from home ... I
noticed the lush greenery outside a neighbor's gate. But these two
particular bushes ... each different from the other in color and
shape.... and yet sharing the same air, soil, and space stood side by
side. Together. Happily. Humans can learn something from that.
There is beauty in diversity.
Have a lovely day and week. God bless you!
