As humans, our ideal lifespan is approximately 100 years. During that time, hopefully we will learn a few things on the journey that we call "Life":
- That we are all similar... we all want clean water, food, shelter, warmth and safety for ourselves and better than we had for our children.
- Pain and suffering is normal in the human experience. We do our best to avoid it, but it is part and parcel of our experience on the planet.
- Joy and happiness is also normal in the human experience. We do our best to maximize the time that we enjoy it, but its time is short and fleeting.
- Difficulties and successful times test and temper the strength of our character and personality.
- In difficulty - What kind of person are we when we are doing worse than our friends and associates? Do we become petulant, or feel sorry for ourselves? Do we feel that others deserve our misfortune more than we do? Are we jealous of those who are doing better than we are?
- In success - What kind of person are we when we are doing better than our friends and associates? Do we become complacent and arrogant? Do we feel that we deserve what we have more than others do? Do we despise those who do not have what we have? Success has its own pitfalls; many who survived adversity, failed the test of success.
The only thing that we can count on is that things will change. The only way that we can survive the highs as well as the lows, is to be content no matter where we are, or what we have. To develop contentment is to plant seeds of happiness in our lives that will bloom even during times of adversity.
©2007 LaVeda H. Mason All Rights Reserved.
3 opinions on this post:
Your post reminded me of a documentary about the British army that I saw a couple of years ago - specifically "What kind of person are we when we are doing better than our friends and associates"
The officer candidates had to complete an arduous obstacle course.
The first man over the finish line was immediately disqualified - he hadn't offered any help to those not as able as himself.
It always strikes me as a bit strange that we have so many similarities as humans and tend to focus on the differences. Nice post!
You jolted me out of my reverie! Did a great job of it too!
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