We Are All in This Together

Playwright W. Somerset Maugham once wrote,”It is a funny thing, life. If you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” It is very apt in today’s world also. Often we do not care about ourselves and do not live each moment to the best of our abilities. We settle for second best. If our inner heart has holes, we do not bother to refill them, thinking how does it matter? Who can see them?

The truth is your body can feel it and you know it matters! Many times, we skip meals, thinking it does not matter, and you think, “I have more important things to do in life’. Truth is, your body needs that nourishment, as does your soul through prayer and meditation. No one else is going to nourish your body and soul but you! For the world to treat you well, you need to treat yourself well! If you have no pride in yourself, chances are the world will look at you in the same way.

Make the most of what you have got

It is said that charity begins at home. We care for the less fortunate and the needy, which is a great quality in any human being, but remember your mind, body and soul need you first. Pamper youself, enjoy life to the fullest and make the most of what you have got, it is said, keep a clean home, nourish your body and soul, pamper yourself and you will feel blessed! Most of us feel it is a sheer waste of time to invest in one’s self. Pampering yourself is vanity! Well, overdoing it might be vanity but doing something you like once in a while is important to feel good, happy and satiated in life.

Everything affects everything. The way you walk affects the way you talk. The way you dress affects the way you feel. The care you give to yourself will affect how you care about others. Nurturing and feeling good about yourself is the first step towards confidence and goes a long way in fulfilling your ambitions. There are positive vibrations all around you. You just need to grab them and realise them. For this, you need to have strength and confidence in yourself. Be happy to make others happy. As usual a story from my Nana Scully’s prayer book might help to explain.

A Beautiful Flower

‘The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read, beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree. Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, for the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day, a young boy approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down and said with great excitement , ‘Look what I found!’ in his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight, with its petals all worn—not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away.

But instead of retreating he sat next to my side and declared with overacted surprise, “It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too. That’s why I picked it; here it’s for you.’ The weed before me was dying or dead, not vibrant of colours; orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, ‘Thanks, just what I need.’ But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, he held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time that weed-toting boy could not see, he was blind, I heard my voice quiver, tears shone in the sun as I thanked him for picking the very best one. ‘You’re welcome,’ he smiled, and then ran off to play; unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.

I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying man beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight. Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see the problem was not with the world, the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that’s mine. And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose and breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose. And smiled, as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand, about to change the life of another unsuspecting old man!’

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, make the most of what you have got and pamper yourself a little. Celebrate who you are. We are here to inspire one another, to help one another, to share with one another, to be there for one another. Treasure your life and especially the lives of those around you. We are all in this together.

P.S Please support Frank Downes in the coming weeks and months with the great events he is organising for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind leading up to the end of the year.