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August 18, 2017
Good morning, world! How’d
you sleep last night? If you ever sleep! That is everybody knows that
you carry problems on your shoulders 24/7. God created the world (that’s
you) but man created its problems. That is correct, right?
A lot of things are happening in many parts of the world today…. Wars,
violent protests, killings, arguments, uprisings, cruelty, racism,
bullying, greed, blackmail, lies, and every other thing you can dump in
that ugly category. All in small or greater measure. Individually or
collectively. All serving one goal --- self destruction. And reasons for
that come a-dozen fueled by the ego, pride, angst, a superiority
complex, snobbery, mine is right and yours is wrong, that holier than
thou feeling. Reasons may be diverse good or bad but we know that there
is always a sensible way of settling issues or arguments (if we so
choose and decide) without having to hurt ourselves and others.
I remember this ……. ‘Life isn’t all about you’ -- That’s a line in the movie “Doctor Strange”
It’s this mind frame of “I-Me-My-Mine” that seems to get in the way of
doing good or greater things for the self or others. But always! ---
Thoughts like ‘What’s in it for me’… ‘Who gets the credit’… ‘I deserve
it’… ‘I’m bigger and better’… ‘I’m important’… ‘I should be first’…
A friend remarked some days ago that --- ‘we always do that to
ourselves; admit it we often make that mistake. It’s a flaw but it
should not remain a flaw. Sadly sometimes we don’t realize it until it
becomes too late to save ourselves or repair it because damage has
already been done.’
Unfortunately true.
Don’t
think though that the I-Me-My-Mine of life and living is totally bad. If
it were we won’t be getting from here to there in terms of self-growth
and progress at all. It supports life goals, objectives, and dreams. But
it has a limited time frame.
When all becomes sated or
achieved... when contentment, happiness, and satisfaction rule, don’t
stop there. That now is the cue to prepare yourself for another
challenge --- of bringing all that you are (talents, skills, wisdom,
expertise, knowledge, insights, experience, training, goodness,
kindness, compassion, positivity, etc.) into service and on to the
bigger world outside. The bigger world of people who may have the same
dreams and goals like you but perhaps may not know where to begin. You
could probably help, right?
That, incidentally, is how God wants it. We all stand connected.
Have a blessed day, folks! God bless you
.
My daughter and I were walking out to the main street to get a ride to
the mall, on an errand... when two ladies hurriedly walked past us. One
looking in her twenties and the other apparently thrice her age.
Overheard this.....
Young girl: "Bilis-bilisan nyo naman, nay. Ang kupad-kupad nyong maglakad!" (Walk faster, will yuh, mom? You're so slow!"
Old lady: "Eto nga, anak, mabilis na nga." "Doing my best."
Although the younger one showed such insensitivity to her aging mother,
let's withhold judgement there because we do not know their stories.
Or maybe they really have to hurry to catch up on something important.
But I did form an unpleasant impression of that young girl in my mind. I
was seething with anger, in fact.
But it made me think.....
On other occasions have I heard of similar words by the young.
Sometimes even said in banter to and with their friends. Words such
as......
"Para kang matanda; ang kulit-kulit mo ah!" (You're so annoying, like an old person!"
"Ang malilimutin mo naman. Para kang tanda." (You're so forgetful, just like an oldie!"
"Ano ba! Balat-sibuyas.. para kang lola." (Overly sensitive bloke! Just like granny."
"Ano ba! Dali mong matapilok. Tanda mo na ba!?" (Missed your step again! Are you that old!?)
That sounds so mean, harsh, and inconsiderate, even if it be true... or
it be a joke. Sure older people can be ofttimes forgetful,
repetitively annoying, and buckle down easily in their steps. But that
is just the natural course of age and aging. We all know that. It's as
normal as eating pizza pie. So why be mean about it just because in
their company you would have to slow down or unwillingly rethink the
usual things you would be doing in your own 'young' time, space, and
world.
Let's nudge your memory a bit, young lady.....
Do you remember when your mom would patiently guide you through your
first baby steps? Or those long sleepless nights she spends by your
bedside when you were sick? Or those times when she listens attentively
and patiently to your rambling mumbling incoherent stories? Or those
times when you stumbled and fell but she was quicker at catching you...
every time?
This I have learned...... Life is not all about you.
When you're done growing up (the time when everything is indeed about
you), then it becomes time to think of others, too. Even care for them,
serve, shield or protect, encourage or inspire them, maybe teach them
too. In fact, if you have learned your lessons well you do all of those
things alongside growing up.
Most importantly, at whatever your age --- always... "Be kind."
God bless you with everything good.
