make the world smile
[dec 16 2002, 23:10]
all your life long, you learn lessons. it starts right after your birth when you notice that breathing might be a rather good idea. it then continues in kindergarden and at school (where you probably don't learn what you are supposed to learn but how to get out of the bigger kids' way) but the process of learning is never really over. at least i suppose so - well... ;o)
however, i'm continuously learning things as well. it's not about mathematical formulas, english vocabulary or other ways of interpreting this or that text, poem or conglomeration of letters. it's about living my life and, especially, about other people.
you can go through your life without having to care for anyone. no relatives, no close friends, just you, your job and the remote control of your tv - okay, and perhaps the telephone and the number of the chinese takeaway but that's about it. it's the easy way. avoiding people means avoiding conflicts, avoiding difficult situations you may not be able to cope with.
but that's quite a weird definition of 'life', isn't it? well, it may sound odd but the best guide for your life may be 'do a good deed every day'. no, i haven't been to the boy scouts, neither do i want you to take this literally. or myself (how could i dare to try to influence you?)...
after all, it all comes down to selfishness. everybody thinks that guiding an old lady over the street is a sign of politeness and of good education but in the end it's a matter of self-satisfaction - although with a positive effect. have you ever helped a child to achieve something? whatever it is? for example told him some stuff about maths before his test which he passed? just barely, maybe you have even been counterproductive, but who cares? he don't!
have you ever lent someone an ear who needed it? a good friend or your grandma? possibly even your 'oh-so-perfect' parents who turn out to be less perfect with every fucking year of your life. have you seen the glow in their eyes after they have been able to talk about something that was on their mind for days, maybe even weeks or months?
no, i don't want you to call your best friend and your grandma to arrange a meeting for tomorrow. i don't want you to help your friend's cousin's brother. i don't want you to open the doors for someone with two full bags in his or her hands. basically, i don't want you to do anything.
i just want you to understand that for me doing these things is a really great feeling. well, not doing them, in fact, but recieving any kind of reward, be it a smile, a little laughter or maybe even the fact that the someone does not kick your ass mentally because you didn't do something that was expected from you.
in the end, human beings are just all about rewards. if they do something, the first question is 'what do i get for it?'. it's just in our nature. but if the deed is so marginal, in contrast to the payment, i think it's worth a try.
charon, trying to improve the world
song of the day: oasis - little by little
however, i'm continuously learning things as well. it's not about mathematical formulas, english vocabulary or other ways of interpreting this or that text, poem or conglomeration of letters. it's about living my life and, especially, about other people.
you can go through your life without having to care for anyone. no relatives, no close friends, just you, your job and the remote control of your tv - okay, and perhaps the telephone and the number of the chinese takeaway but that's about it. it's the easy way. avoiding people means avoiding conflicts, avoiding difficult situations you may not be able to cope with.
but that's quite a weird definition of 'life', isn't it? well, it may sound odd but the best guide for your life may be 'do a good deed every day'. no, i haven't been to the boy scouts, neither do i want you to take this literally. or myself (how could i dare to try to influence you?)...
after all, it all comes down to selfishness. everybody thinks that guiding an old lady over the street is a sign of politeness and of good education but in the end it's a matter of self-satisfaction - although with a positive effect. have you ever helped a child to achieve something? whatever it is? for example told him some stuff about maths before his test which he passed? just barely, maybe you have even been counterproductive, but who cares? he don't!
have you ever lent someone an ear who needed it? a good friend or your grandma? possibly even your 'oh-so-perfect' parents who turn out to be less perfect with every fucking year of your life. have you seen the glow in their eyes after they have been able to talk about something that was on their mind for days, maybe even weeks or months?
no, i don't want you to call your best friend and your grandma to arrange a meeting for tomorrow. i don't want you to help your friend's cousin's brother. i don't want you to open the doors for someone with two full bags in his or her hands. basically, i don't want you to do anything.
i just want you to understand that for me doing these things is a really great feeling. well, not doing them, in fact, but recieving any kind of reward, be it a smile, a little laughter or maybe even the fact that the someone does not kick your ass mentally because you didn't do something that was expected from you.
in the end, human beings are just all about rewards. if they do something, the first question is 'what do i get for it?'. it's just in our nature. but if the deed is so marginal, in contrast to the payment, i think it's worth a try.
charon, trying to improve the world
song of the day: oasis - little by little