I wish there was a way to measure how much a person will influence you.
A way to tell who will cherish you, and who will break your heart.
Who will trample you, and who will respect you.
To know who will be here temporarily, and who will stay with you forever.
Then maybe I would know how much energy to invest in each person.
But of course, there is no way to know.
So you must work hard, help everyone, care for each person,
love a lot, give everything you have,
and sometimes have everything thrown back in your face.
Have your heart broken into many many pieces, all in the name of love.
Life is cruel like that.
Or maybe, maybe, life is a learning game, and you become so much smarter through playing.
Ask not, what can you do for me, ask, what can I do for you.
Accept help when it is offered to you, and don't be too bone headed and full of pride to ask, when help is needed.
Don't measure a relationship by quantity, or how much you give or get,
measure it in quality, in laughs, in smiles, in hugs, and in kind words that are said.
Repay your debts, but be lax in demanding that from others. Perhaps they are unable to repay you at the moment.
Look for opportunities to give, and you will receive so much more in return.
Be friends to many, but have few of your own.
Disclaimer: I cannot say that I have put all of these into practice. In life, sometimes you must go through a situation in order to get hindsight, and become much wiser as a result. But luckily, G-d gives us the gift of foresight as well.
These are my thoughts. Feel free to add your own.
(rolling eyes) another deep and emotional post? Fine.
ReplyDeleteThe not-knowing is the fun part. When i fo hiking i don't want to know what lies behind each turn, i want to be surprised. And if i turn and see nothing, the anticipation for something great is still there, part of the game.
could you elaborate on "Be friends to many, but have few of your own. " please.
just because 'big boys don't cry' doesn't mean there's anything wrong with an emotional post, as you put it. And it is good to think about once in awhile.
ReplyDeletei'd rather know what lies behind the turn, in case it is something coming to kill me. then again, who wants to know when they are about to die.
of course, life is a game of not knowing. surprises. we can't change that. attitude, we can change. i can't say i like the aspect of not knowing, but i can learn to live with it.
"Be friends to many, and have few of your own."
Let the world think of you as a friend, much like a personable TV character whom you think of as your best friend, or a famous singer. The friendship may mean nothing to you, you may not even know that person considers you as a friend, but that is the equivilent of being kind to everyone, and expecting nothing in return.
my point: i am careful who i become friends with.
Breaking nose is a part of life.
ReplyDeletewho broke their nose? no, id rather not. i hear its painful.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was five or six, I broke my mom's nose. I was walking on a walking bar (trapezo? something like that). Yelling "catch me!" I dived down. My head vs. her nose. Yellow gym carpet becoming very deep red.
ReplyDeletewow. im sure that makes for some good memories though.
ReplyDeleteAnd she now has a Jewish nose.
ReplyDelete:) and I'm sure she still loves you.
ReplyDeleteHeehee, my mom and I once tried to do what I like to call a "Kodak Moment", she was pushing me on the swing and it was sunny, both of us were laughing and smiling...and then I kicked her in the jaw.
ReplyDelete