Odd and Ends

It is better to live in serene poverty than in hectic abundance. Everything has a price. The price for nurturing your soul is turning away from excessive stress, destruction of self-respect, and the constant strive in lifestyle with the Joneses. But it’s worth it.

There is at least one thing we can identify with in every person we meet, no matter what he or she looks like or where he or she comes from. There is also at least one thing we will differ in. The art is to find that one commonality that connects us with each person we meet, in order to establish mutual understanding and acceptance. We should all make that effort.

Arguing with family-members, colleagues or friends does not necessarily have to be a bad thing. If it’s constructive in nature, an argument can lead to enhanced insights in each other’s perceptions, leading to a broader mindset. All we have to do is keep the respect in tact, and then an argument –well executed and peacefully ended– can have a positive impact.

One of the concerning signs of a society living in affluence is the occurrence of people who measure their status to the amount and the level of sophistication of their ailments. The harder it is to prove their diseases, and the more expensive the treatment, the more they consider themselves an established member of an over-civilized crowd. Beware of this syndrome!

Even our bravest, most admired accomplishments sometimes seem foolish in our own eyes, depending on the state of mind we are in. Although this may be depressing while going through the down phase, it also has a good side to it: it holds us down to earth and maintains our awareness that everything can be perceived from different perspectives: There is just as much foolishness in any act, as there is valor.

Trust may be regarded the main element in the quality of relationships. It can become the highest elevation or the darkest pitfall. Too many people tend to forget the rules that were set at the establishment of their acquaintance. That’s when they start poking into the other party’s tolerance. And depending on this person’s level of forbearance and his or her estimation of the underlying issue, will it result in either a simple adjustment leading to an improved level of understanding, or an ugly clash leading to lasting resentment and alienation.

Everything around us contains a lesson. However, we can only learn that lesson if we care enough to look past the obvious: **My cat teaches me that nothing should be taken too serious: life is too short to suffer continuous stress. **My mirror reflection teaches me that nothing will reverse the aging process, so I may as well be at peace with who I am, and make my natural decay as graceful as possible.