Somebody asked me how I was doing the other day.
“Something is wrong with you.” They said.
“I’m high on responsibility, low on joy.” Was my response.
Immediately, I felt guilty and ungrateful.
But, it was an honest answer.
A lot going on. A lot of things I feel responsible for… and wishingI could be living at a different pace…
I know… I know…
Wishing is disharmony.
I had a wonderful weekend. Truly joyful moments with my boys and my wife. And, I was aware of them as I was living them.
Work is consuming right now. I need to be mindful of my balance.
And, then…
Yesterday I was readingabout the refugees crossing from Africa into Europe.
Someone posted about how during the World Wars it was the Europeans seeking refuge in Africa.
Families huddled on small inflatable ships, paying $1,500 per person to make a life risking trip across the Mediterranean.
The quotes read, “You only put your children on the boat when the water is safer than the land.”
In some cases, some of these families had trekked across the Sahara desert to make it to the boat, to go across the Sea and leave all of their lives behind. Many die at sea as the small boats overturn. The lucky ones who make it across are met with a 50 mile hike to the immigration offices. They often land in Greece or in Italy without enough money for a meal… their only objective is survival.
The world… life isn’t supposed to be easy.
And, when we stop feeling selfpity or simple selfishness, we can so quickly see how very blessed to have OUR own problems.
Gaining perspective of how difficult it is for others helps keep our life and our problems in context, which in turn helps us be grateful… which in turn helps us find energy to see the joy and the blessings that are already so plentiful in our lives.
Our minds are complex, but malleable. Our experiences are difficult but relative. Our suffering is real and in most cases cursory.
I take a deep breath. I can only imagine the HIGH responsibility those parents must feel putting themselves and their loved ones on small vessels, prayingand hopingfor survival. And, those that await in Italy or Greece or other locations, where they are already struggling to make a living – and seeing so many more immigrants come in taking low paying jobs and putting an additional load on the government.
Thank God for people who care.
Thank God for less than perfect governments who give these people shelter or means in their darkest moments.
Everyone is facing their own set of circumstances.
Comparison is the thief of joy, ONLY if you compare yourself constantly to those who have “MORE” than you think you do… “MORE” than I think I do.
And, life has shown me over and over again that MORE is so very often NOT MORE…
Human nature is to compare…
Human nature is to have highs and lows…
Human nature is to get lost in our own noise…
Human nature is to endure…
Human nature is to survive…
Keep searching for joy…
And, if you compare… compare against those who are on the boats holding their families close… and putting it all on the line for simple survival…
In which case – comparison won’t be the thief of joy, but rather the catalyst for gratitude.
Higher on joy than when I started...
Yours in harmony,
Nestor