I’d go to any lengths to catch the sun at its brightest—even if it meant staying up late or waking up well before the wee hours of morning. And so with this undeniable obsession comes the craving to fill up my gallery with pictures of the sun from where ever I travel. During my visit to Portland, I managed to grab this little scene. It’s not the most stunning sunset I’ve seen, but it’s the sunset, and catching it is always stunning.
We are incredible in talent, but also stupid and silly and incorrigible all the time.
Including me, of course.
As an individual, I have expectations. I want people to treat me a certain way, speak with respect, listen as I speak, acknowledge when I offer help, and recognise my work when it’s prudent.
It’s a natural tendency—expectations.
But what we often forget is that others expect the same things we expect of them. I’d get angry when someone overshadows my voice during a discussion. However, when I’m doing the talking, I fail to understand that I overshadow others myself.
We get frustrated when our supervisors don’t recognise our efforts, but when it comes to appreciating someone else for the support they’ve offered us, it seems to minuscule to even mention it.
We don’t see the efforts of others as much as we see our own. We overestimate our own importance while underestimating others’. As we shrug it off as unworthy of a mention or consideration, we come off as arrogant and unreasonable.
That’s the killer of relationships. We become condescending, faltering in our ability to notice others and appreciate their favours, devaluing them, and at last driving them away from our lives.
The way we sometimes treat our parents is a good example. Though aware of all their sacrifices, we still brush them away as if it’s their duty. It’s the same with colleagues. We work for the same employer, and each has their duties. Regardless, it’s essential to take a moment to appreciate those who go a step further to fulfil their duties even by making personal sacrifices.
Not only do they deserve it, but they also expect it. I know I would if it were me. After all, I’m human and I’m weird.
The residents uphill would always remember Marcus as a strong and capable fellow. Not only did he possess the charm to attracted followers, but also the passion to serve.
He’d grown up insufficient, his family dabbling in poverty. That, he often said, helped him define his priorities. When he first assumed office, he’d assumed to provide for those who trusted him. It was his duty.
No one foresaw the years that followed. From being confident and enthusiastic, Marcus evolved. Processions and possessions weighed him down. Routines and meetings disrupted his dreams.
Soon, he’d become the laziest ant on the hill.
Our most beautiful moments come when we least expect it. Sometimes, we may spend all our lives searching for happiness and contentment when all the while it’s just round the corner without us realising it.
The reason: we pursue. Our society always taught us to chase life, and to strive to make our own path. To create our own luck, and to forge ourselves the future we dream of. And so we do. We toil day in and out, focussing on the one thing that we think matters the most to us, while we miss out on the small everyday, ever-present, pleasures coexisting with us.
Aiming only for the destination, we fail to appreciate the journey. Serene experiences stem from absolute lack of preparedness. Spontaneous actions, unplanned adventures, bring us serendipitous memories. We don’t always have to create a path—it’s okay once a while to let an unknown path lead us where it may. It’s the unexpected joys of spotting a squirrel or running into a friend that makes any journey worth taking.
When we begin to notice, and let nature influence our course of action, we grow. We learn from the people we meet, the conversations we have, and the coffee we share. And all these occur by allowing things to happen as they do, and not jumping to rash conclusions. For when we are open-minded, devoid of judgement, and fearless to embrace unfamiliarity, we find meaning in this trip called life.
The Chaos Within 