Illusion of a Happy Youth
- W. Somerset Maugham, Of Human Bondage -
S. Maugham was an English novelist, short-story writer and essayist famous for Of Human Bondage, The Moon and Sixpence and The Razor’s Edge.
Quote of our Worth
Someone once said that the real measure of our worthiness is how much we’d be worth if we lose all our money.
To Trust and be Trusted
Trust takes time. If we don’t invest in it, we most likely won’t get it.
Trusting another person, and vice-versa, is like planting in a garden. First we must choose where to plant. Is the soil healthy? Or is the soil full of rocks that are hard? Is it open to sunlight? By the same token, we need to choose friends who are trustworthy, who are like rich soil open to planting and sunlight. It’s never easy.
Then we need to plant the seeds of time and care. We can share our feelings, ourselves in our own time – even a garden grows slowly, and can take only so much sun and rain in a day.
Having trust in someone feeds the spirit. Trust also gives us courage to be comfortable and pleasant, like the flowers that we plant and nurture in our gardens.
Are we brave enough to trust others? Are we also worthy of their trust?
Life a Big Fun Park
Life is one big amusement park, with joy rides and scary roller coasters, among others. To be amused, we must be aware of the irony of life. When we are amused by something – entertainment, moments of awe, fun is at hand.
Being amused by life gives us an attitude of detachment from things which are extremely serious. These are moments when we learn to inject humour in our lives. The art of being amused by life and by ourselves means we have to slow down, practice our balance or work and play. If we always run around harried, worried and anxious, we will miss the ever-present amusement we also need to experience to circle our life-balance.
Reflection:
I will find the amusement and humour that are at hand on the journey of life.
Appreciating Moment’s Blessings
When we are unwell, there is discomfort. Sometimes the lights might not only be dim, but it might even be off.
Our faith is tested. We become roller coasters.
No matter how much we approach it – pain in all forms – and at times even loneliness, there is a kind of suffering that takes us somewhere as if we are abandoned. Suddenly we realize how much of life we have taken for granted as we start to notice things we never bothered about before, or perhaps try to get hold of relationships we are about to lose.
This is also true of our health. When we are well, we are so rapt with our busy world that we don’t even notice how well we are. Or give thanks for our blessings. Or appreciate family and friends. Suddenly ill-health comes and challenges everything in us. We are vulnerable, suddenly open, unmasked.
Our character, our inner soul is tested.
Active Listening: Why Can’t We Hear Others?
It’s not easy to communicate when you are talking and the other person is also talking, or, in the middle of your sentence the other person butts in. Listening is not easy, unless we are physically impaired of hearing. I don’t mean that. It’s an art to listen. Difficulty in listening happens even amongst educated people, family members, or between good friends.
So, why can’t we hear others?
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We select what we want to hear.
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We identify what the other person is saying to our own personal experiences that we miss what the other person is trying to convey.
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We drift off during the conversation thinking of other things.
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We prepare ahead what we are going to say next, instead of listening to the other person.
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We change the topic too fast indicating that we’re not really listening or interested with what the other person is saying.
I’m sure there are other reasons aside from what I’ve mentioned earlier. The Creator has given us two ears and one mouth so this means something…
Indeed, active listening is a challenge to us all. But we can always try.
Do it now
Quote for the Day.
“I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”
- John Wesley, Found of the English Methodist Movement -
John Wesley was brother of the hymn writer Charles Wesley.
Taking What Comes and Keeping Faith
What good is life without any sense of meaning? It is absurd. Empty.
And even if that sense of meaning is present, if somehow it is violated or it collapses from some external interference, it is very difficult to remain creative.
What then is left? First, we need to keep faith, to hold on to. It is this faith in a higher power who will give us the strength and perseverance to hang on until the turbulence subsides. And slowly, our creativity will pick up once again.
It’s okay to spend occasional moments wishing, crying, and reminiscing those past happy moments. Ypu think that life has killed the dream you’ve dreamed? Keep faith. Keep hoping. I’m reminding myself too.
Tomorrow’s another day. Another gift.
Friendship and our Growth
When the coffee is hot, the talk is good, moment is too short, then we are with a friend.
We need to remind ourselves that our friends are special to our growth. Friends come and go. Our paths cross with them for a reason.
They are a gift.
We Shine Best with Supportive People
Most often our best comes out when we are surrounded by supportive people who have our interest or when we work in a supportive environment.
People with negative attitude can be draining and their negativity, infectious, can pull us down. And even on our own, simply by negatively confronting our day may complicate our opportunities.
Meeting life head-on is sure to attract good people our way, if we too are ready to give our heartfelt selves.