TODAY
..has been a difficult day for many people, myself included.
A friend just texted me, "things are not great at the moment." No they are not, are they. Not when she has a perpetual discomfort in her side and locked herself out of her house in the afternoon.
Not when I have lost so many seemingly inconsequential things over the past three weeks. Perhaps my possessions matter to me more than they should. Perhaps small things affect me more than they should. When I tell people this, I learnt that while I thought I wanted affirmation, encouragement, generosity or sympathy, I really wanted none of the above. And the truth is probably that none of that will suffice.
What makes me laugh at the end of the day isn't so much that the day is over, but the mutual "OH, YOU TOO?"
Not glee that somebody else was having a hard time too, but the ability to both take a step back, laugh at our own weaknesses and understand each other's bad day.
I've realised what the tension is.
"I can't wait for this to be over" - no, actually I don't. We wish for our days to pass, but the truth is that they will pass away.
"We're nowhere" - no, we're now here. Love it or hate it that's the most consequential part of present existence.
"I think, therefore I am" - no, I am, therefore I think. The subject brings forth meaningful action, not the other way round.
What we were looking for, of course, was hope. And hope does not disappoint.. what a lofty thought!
A friend just texted me, "things are not great at the moment." No they are not, are they. Not when she has a perpetual discomfort in her side and locked herself out of her house in the afternoon.
Not when I have lost so many seemingly inconsequential things over the past three weeks. Perhaps my possessions matter to me more than they should. Perhaps small things affect me more than they should. When I tell people this, I learnt that while I thought I wanted affirmation, encouragement, generosity or sympathy, I really wanted none of the above. And the truth is probably that none of that will suffice.
What makes me laugh at the end of the day isn't so much that the day is over, but the mutual "OH, YOU TOO?"
Not glee that somebody else was having a hard time too, but the ability to both take a step back, laugh at our own weaknesses and understand each other's bad day.
I've realised what the tension is.
"I can't wait for this to be over" - no, actually I don't. We wish for our days to pass, but the truth is that they will pass away.
"We're nowhere" - no, we're now here. Love it or hate it that's the most consequential part of present existence.
"I think, therefore I am" - no, I am, therefore I think. The subject brings forth meaningful action, not the other way round.
What we were looking for, of course, was hope. And hope does not disappoint.. what a lofty thought!