We Begin to Lose Our Humanity When
Most of the times, we have that sense of invulnerability--that freakish idea that tantamounts to "Oh, no, that wouldn't happen to me. Not me!"
We usually forget our fears--the fear of crossing busy streets, the unwariness in using our precious cellphones in public, the fear of illness when tiring ourselves to work for more money but to unhealthiness, the tendency to challenge the most daring, the urge to fight a stranger without fear of getting hurt or killed...and so many more things we do to surge any adversity Nature mindlessly lays on our paths.
Yes, we always forget our weaknesses and ignore our limitations, and in doing so we begin to lose our humanity.
We always try hard to be strong, powerful, and independent.
What do we often hear as advice or read from inspirational books? "Always be strong, always take the risk, always be aggressive in life, because out there is survival of the fittest or even of the wickedest...challenge the impossible, defy death.
In introspection, I believe that in constantly aspiring for strength, power, independence, and, yes! that sense of invulnerability, we begin to lose our humanity. We start to forget that we are after all only helpless and hapless humans rebelling against the decree of Nature.
How we would even talk lightheartedly about death and dying; until someone we actually knew or very close to us dies unexpectedly in an unimagined manner that we begin to realize that, ready for it or not, Death is always an unwelcomed visitor. In fact, Death will always be the antithesis to Life.
In light of all these, I wonder...
Don't we sometimes need to be weak? vulnerable? helpless? dependent?
For, when we are vulnerable and weak, we begin to think of our safety and start to be careful with everything we do, feel wary of the things around us;
when we are helpless, we begin to reach out and realize the importance of the people around us;
and when we are dependent, we realize that independence lessens our compassion and aggravates our self-centredness. Aren't all these the reasons we are humans? Isn't this the real essence of our humanity?
Every day upon greeting a new morning, we should always ask this question to ourselves: "How do I want people to remember me when I'm dead and gone?"
Every waking moment is a gift of chance to make oneself better as a human being. Yes, we can never bring to the grave all our wealth and fame, we are leaving them behind; but when it's really time to go to the grave, nothing but only memories of us are worthy of leaving this world with.
So, again, how do we want people to remember us when we're dead and gone? What kind of memories will we leave behind?
--5:00 a.m., Friday, September 3, 2004
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
While listening to "Light and Shade"
Light and Shade
(Per Øystein Sørensen / Rune Kristoffersen)
by Fra Lippo Lippi
Light and Shade; 1987, Virgin
He will paint the light and shade
The colors of the trees
He will climb the steepest hill
Believing what he sees
He will lay down on the ground
Beneath the old oak tree
He will sleep forever
If you try to set him free
Sail on the wings of the clouds
Where to well nobody knows
And cry, cry if you want them to see
Die, everyday to be free
Be proud, to wear the colors that you call your own
Be loud, speak out when you want the world to know
Be strong, hold the flame for everyone to see
BE WEAK, IF YOU WANT TO LOVE
He will paint the endless sea
A mystery to me
He will reach out for the sun
Not dreaming what he sees
He will fall down on his knees
Angel touching ground
Takes him to the other side
Sweet love is coming down
Sail on the wings of the clouds
Where to well nobody knows
And cry, cry if you want them to see
Die, everyday to be free
Be proud, to wear the colors that you call your own
Be loud, speak out when you want the world to know
Be strong, hold the flame for everyone to see
BE WEAK, IF YOU WANT TO LOVE
We usually forget our fears--the fear of crossing busy streets, the unwariness in using our precious cellphones in public, the fear of illness when tiring ourselves to work for more money but to unhealthiness, the tendency to challenge the most daring, the urge to fight a stranger without fear of getting hurt or killed...and so many more things we do to surge any adversity Nature mindlessly lays on our paths.
Yes, we always forget our weaknesses and ignore our limitations, and in doing so we begin to lose our humanity.
We always try hard to be strong, powerful, and independent.
What do we often hear as advice or read from inspirational books? "Always be strong, always take the risk, always be aggressive in life, because out there is survival of the fittest or even of the wickedest...challenge the impossible, defy death.
In introspection, I believe that in constantly aspiring for strength, power, independence, and, yes! that sense of invulnerability, we begin to lose our humanity. We start to forget that we are after all only helpless and hapless humans rebelling against the decree of Nature.
How we would even talk lightheartedly about death and dying; until someone we actually knew or very close to us dies unexpectedly in an unimagined manner that we begin to realize that, ready for it or not, Death is always an unwelcomed visitor. In fact, Death will always be the antithesis to Life.
In light of all these, I wonder...
Don't we sometimes need to be weak? vulnerable? helpless? dependent?
For, when we are vulnerable and weak, we begin to think of our safety and start to be careful with everything we do, feel wary of the things around us;
when we are helpless, we begin to reach out and realize the importance of the people around us;
and when we are dependent, we realize that independence lessens our compassion and aggravates our self-centredness. Aren't all these the reasons we are humans? Isn't this the real essence of our humanity?
Every day upon greeting a new morning, we should always ask this question to ourselves: "How do I want people to remember me when I'm dead and gone?"
Every waking moment is a gift of chance to make oneself better as a human being. Yes, we can never bring to the grave all our wealth and fame, we are leaving them behind; but when it's really time to go to the grave, nothing but only memories of us are worthy of leaving this world with.
So, again, how do we want people to remember us when we're dead and gone? What kind of memories will we leave behind?
--5:00 a.m., Friday, September 3, 2004
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
While listening to "Light and Shade"
Light and Shade
(Per Øystein Sørensen / Rune Kristoffersen)
by Fra Lippo Lippi
Light and Shade; 1987, Virgin
He will paint the light and shade
The colors of the trees
He will climb the steepest hill
Believing what he sees
He will lay down on the ground
Beneath the old oak tree
He will sleep forever
If you try to set him free
Sail on the wings of the clouds
Where to well nobody knows
And cry, cry if you want them to see
Die, everyday to be free
Be proud, to wear the colors that you call your own
Be loud, speak out when you want the world to know
Be strong, hold the flame for everyone to see
BE WEAK, IF YOU WANT TO LOVE
He will paint the endless sea
A mystery to me
He will reach out for the sun
Not dreaming what he sees
He will fall down on his knees
Angel touching ground
Takes him to the other side
Sweet love is coming down
Sail on the wings of the clouds
Where to well nobody knows
And cry, cry if you want them to see
Die, everyday to be free
Be proud, to wear the colors that you call your own
Be loud, speak out when you want the world to know
Be strong, hold the flame for everyone to see
BE WEAK, IF YOU WANT TO LOVE
posted by eLf ideas @ 5:00:00 AM
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