On my mind...
Recently, a friend asked me why life is so hard. And I gave him my own version of Buddhist philosophy... because life sucks.
And it does. There's lots of horrible things in the world, and more evil and/or stupid people than we really need. And the conversation that arose from this has been on my mind quite a bit.
I think that there is so much pain and bad-ness in the world so that we can truly appreciate the wonderful moments. Not to say that there is an actual "reason" for why individual terrible things occur. Again, life just sucks.
My friend said he had trouble finding those good moments, the moments that suck considerably less than the other moments. And I think this is a problem with a lot of people. And I think it's because we are programmed to think that that happiness is something grandiose and is wrapped in shiny paper with a foil bow and is accompanied by angelic fanfare. Because that's what they show in those awful jewelry commercials.
But happiness is much smaller than that and you have to sometimes really look for it, or at least be open to seeing it in its many forms. This is why I always take my first sip of coffee or chai very slowly. I savor every little bit of flavor and warmth. I have been known to moan slightly during that first sip. That first sip of coffee might just be the best part of my day to come, and I want to make sure I truly appreciate what a gift it is.
Now, I am not claiming any special enlightenment. I have my awful days when I hate everything and everyone and just wish it would all end. And I really like it when happiness does come wrapped in shiny paper with a foil bow, angels singing their hearts out off in the distance. And I am often disappointed when it doesn't. But, there is coffee in the world. There are lazy afternoons spent catnapping with purring cats. There are new books by your favorite authors. There are old movies that you never tire of watching. And there are good friends that don't mind existential nonsense. :-)
And it does. There's lots of horrible things in the world, and more evil and/or stupid people than we really need. And the conversation that arose from this has been on my mind quite a bit.
I think that there is so much pain and bad-ness in the world so that we can truly appreciate the wonderful moments. Not to say that there is an actual "reason" for why individual terrible things occur. Again, life just sucks.
My friend said he had trouble finding those good moments, the moments that suck considerably less than the other moments. And I think this is a problem with a lot of people. And I think it's because we are programmed to think that that happiness is something grandiose and is wrapped in shiny paper with a foil bow and is accompanied by angelic fanfare. Because that's what they show in those awful jewelry commercials.
But happiness is much smaller than that and you have to sometimes really look for it, or at least be open to seeing it in its many forms. This is why I always take my first sip of coffee or chai very slowly. I savor every little bit of flavor and warmth. I have been known to moan slightly during that first sip. That first sip of coffee might just be the best part of my day to come, and I want to make sure I truly appreciate what a gift it is.
Now, I am not claiming any special enlightenment. I have my awful days when I hate everything and everyone and just wish it would all end. And I really like it when happiness does come wrapped in shiny paper with a foil bow, angels singing their hearts out off in the distance. And I am often disappointed when it doesn't. But, there is coffee in the world. There are lazy afternoons spent catnapping with purring cats. There are new books by your favorite authors. There are old movies that you never tire of watching. And there are good friends that don't mind existential nonsense. :-)