Do Not Let the World Make You Hard

Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place. ~ Kurt Vonnegut

At the end of the day, there are two truths: We are all dying (very sad, but true); and, the future is completely uncertain.

Within that realm of uncertainty, there is a series of possibilities. The series of possibilities may or may not occur in a way that you want. That’s life.

Now, the real honest truth: life happens. And, sometimes in very tough and very challenging ways. You will do whatever you will do with whatever comes your way, but there will be an a residue — that is, the grease of human experience; but, there is no soap that will get rid of it.

And, then you will have a choice — a choice that you are making every single day, hour, minute and moment — Is life bitter? Or, is it sweet?

Personally, I am extraordinarily afraid of death and illness for myself and those I love (and, kind of anyone); and, the worst part — there is very little I can do about it.

And, there in lies the rub, the melancholy understanding that we all do not want to admit — everything changes and, insofar as this human experience is concerned, nothing lasts.

And, yet we experience moments of understanding and moments of love and we are rekindled with the sweetness:

I was walking home from work one day and stumbled upon the wind moving around these flowers. The petals looked like silk and they were moving ever so gently.

“So beautiful in this bustling city. It’s like a painting, but it moves! Add this to your memory bank for a bad day” ~ an old lady told me after we both enjoyed a moment of zen with the flowers.

https://instagram.com/p/2W1jHHmCUqirxbp8gyXO5E0t4OshnK7uSqK9U0/

That’s the thing. There is sweetness. And, there is bitterness. It’s a part of the deal.

Krishan, May 2016

New York City