As my boyfriend and I were eating breakfast at a restaurant not too long ago, there sat an old couple at the table next to us. As we were leaving, I took a moment to glance at them - the clothes they were wearing, the conversation they were engaged in. I have always been fascinated by the places life can take an individual, and how each person’s life is different.
This old couple belongs to a generation that has seen some tremendous times. What was that like? I’m 21, pretty much at my prime, engaged in popular culture, living a college life, etc. What was that lady’s life like at 20? What was a restaurant breakfast like for her and her husband many years ago? How was that environment different? As humans I think we have a tendency to be self-centered. Not intentionally, or in a bad manner really, but simply concerned mostly with ourselves. It is really hard to put ourselves into someone else’s shoes.
Does this old couple appreciate their past? Do they wish they had done anything different? Taking just a minute to think about what their lives could have been like really puts your own life into perspective. What things really matter? The next time your in the grocery store, walking down the street, or are at work, look at the people around you. Really look at them and think of their experiences and thoughts.
We often get frustrated with those around us. They don’t understand us, their beliefs aren’t the same, they don’t speak the same language, and so on. This can make things complicated, but isn’t it the beauty of life??
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On the subject of life, I feel I should share part of an entry I wrote around New Year’s (and posted on another blog):
“A simple existence changes the world; a life shapes it. The steps we take, the words we speak, and the decisions we make, not only affect us, but everything and everyone we touch. We are all oddly connected, balancing within the same realm. Nothing is concrete, real truth is a mystery, yet everything happens for a reason. As the years pass by, we age, mature, and become wiser. The actions and decisions of our youth now, upon reflection, are the known causes for our present condition. And if we are to let the years slip by, there will be no progression, no evolution...
...There will be a series of tragic events and thoughts. The world does not end there; life does not end on a bad note. You must see past the bad and onto the good. Remember, life is a cycle, not a fairytale. This makes it all that more meaningful. Wake each morning, see the sun. Smile at yourself and those you meet. Truly love those close to you - and let them feel your love.” - Cognitions&Reflections, Dec. 30, 2007
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