Quotes of the Day!

Quotes of the Day!

And therein lies the problem

Sometimes I feel like I write the best blog posts in my mind, just as I'm falling asleep. They're articulate and profound but all memory of the words I used is erased once I wake up. Last night, however, after a long conversation my mind kept whirring. I realised that the reason the world is in despair is because instead of focusing on what makes us the same majority of us pick at what makes us different. We don't take into account the fact that under our skin, beneath our bones, beats the same heart. It doesn't matter the colour of our skin, our caste or creed, our socio-economic background, our social standing, our level of education or the language we speak. We don't realise  the difference we could make just by building solid foundations based on our similarities rather than by building bridges to close gaps on our differences.

While we save up to buy the latest gadgetry or eat out with our friends and families poverty and famine take lives, malnutrition, lack of food, and preventable illnesses cause fatalities that we turn a blind eye to. Why? We, collectively, could have made a difference. Problems exist from developing to developed nations and the root cause remains the same... we don't care. Our worries extend only to our immediate circle of family and friends, if that. For most it's only about the self. Employers don't care about their employees, the government doesn't care about the country's citizens, teachers don't care about the students. It's perhaps a survival instinct, everyone's in the rat race and everyone's trying their hardest to get ahead. Add to that our dependence on material wealth for our happiness and you have, quite essentially, a mess and a half. I was thinking of buying myself an iPad, not for any real reason, but just because I want one. That money, I realised, can send a child in my country to school for four whole years, give them a better education and a better future. Imagine that... something that I would appreciate for perhaps a few months at most has the potential to change someone's whole life and the butterfly effect would transcend generations to come.

I've somewhat lost my faith in people, in humanity. There's still a few good ones. Those who will still stop to help a wounded animal, or feed the hungry, or donate religiously. For others, it's all about themselves, and it's a sad state of affairs. I see it on every level, in personal relationships, at work, on the streets. Everyone's competing. But, for what? And at what expense?

These are just some thoughts, random and rambling. They sounded a lot more collected in my head last night. Perhaps I should become a nocturnal blogger.

Quotes of the Day

Just some random lovelies and advice :)

Live and Let Live...

[caption id="attachment_70" align="aligncenter" width="430"] i LOVE this bumper sticker![/caption]

So I don't want to start any kind of debate here but I find it increasingly difficult to sit and listen to people go off on a tangent that is disrespectful to another point of view be it religious, cultural, sectarian, racist or even political. Sure tolerance means that we listen to what everyone has to say, but then other people need to be vigilant too, of what it is that's coming out their mouths. Do they purposely say things to jab or hurt another party? Are they trying to get a reaction out of them? Will any good come of this? Why can't they just agree to disagree?

Sure, sometimes, curiosity gets the better of me, and I like to read up on, or ask questions about beliefs that vary from my own. After all, what I believe too was taught to me. I wasn't born with that point of view, but I was moulded to see things in that light. I'm open to the possibility that perhaps how I see the world is faulty, maybe another opinion makes more sense. However, for me to learn, I need to keep an open mind, and being defensive about other people saying things otherwise will only make me dogmatic and in a way, illiterate.

I pray to God to give me patience and tolerance so that I can hear everything without being infuriated and without letting it get to me. And I ask God to keep me strong so that I cannot be brainwashed or easily misguided. And most of all I pray to God to surround me with people who, though may challenge my opinions and beliefs, are respectful, and accepting of me as I am.

Life is short... let's coexist in peace and harmony with each other, and learn along the way. Let's laugh and sing and be happy. Let's LIVE.

[caption id="attachment_71" align="aligncenter" width="430"] lack of tolerance is the root cause of all evil?[/caption]