I haven’t written anything much these last couple of weeks. Sometimes I need a writing break to freshen up my mind. Some of my cousins actually noticed that I haven’t written all that much in the last two weeks, I simply told them that I was taking a break and that I have a lot going on. Since I haven’t wrote a whole lot this month, I shall do a few for this month. It’s like that one saying, “we often don’t appreciate what we have until we lose it.” Some of us might complain that we have a brother or sister that is too loud when they play their musical instruments. Within time the music fades away, we only experience the silence. Silence can be calming but having it for too long can make us miserable and regret some of the irritations we once had before. It only shows that we are not the same people, we slowly change and learn to appreciate the things around us.
I remember when I was a child, I preferred one side of the family over the other. In my case, I preferred my mother’s side. Perhaps it was me slowly being brainwashed by my mother’s siblings and mother. Or perhaps it had something to do with being showered with gifts and money from that side of the family constantly. Or perhaps I didn’t value time over objects. I’m not attempting to throw blame on anyone for the preference I had as a child. I am merely pointing out that the information I gathered with my mind and experiences was processed in such a way that I wouldn’t process today. In fact, I would’ve gotten closer with my father’s side of the family had I would’ve been given a chance to live as a child again. It reminds me of 1 corinthians 13:11
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
1 Corinthians 13:11 NIV
At the same time I wouldn’t think like a real man if I had not lived through with the mentality of a child who had gone through some challenges and self discipline. I have made some stupid mistakes in my life, but I have grown from those mistakes. My eyes have been opened. Imagine if I lived the same way everyday, I wouldn’t be learning and I wouldn’t be evolving into a better human being. Don’t talk down upon yourself because of a mistake or bad act, you are just a human being and you will improve. Be kind to yourself. Challenge yourself. Set a goal every week for yourself. Smile more and laugh more.
A couple of weeks ago, I had my third and last garage sale of the year. The amount of stuff we had for sale had diminished quite a bit since the first yard sale that we had held. We had various things to sell. People were buying stuff left and right, like a familiar piano or violin exercise playing in your mind. Around noon, an older man had shown up with his daughter in law. He was browsing at the stuff. He looks at me, and literally starts speaking Russian to me. Apparently I was talking to another customer, and because his hearing wasn’t the greatest, he automatically assumed I spoke Russian. Of course he assumed properly, I asked him if it was the way I looked or dressed. He said that it wasn’t that at all, in fact I didn’t really look Russian to him as far as he could determine, but because he misheard, he thought I spoke Russian. We kept talking about the neighborhood around us and all the development going around town. He inquired about the bike we had for sale. He mentioned how he loves to ride bikes for fun. After he decided to buy a bike from me, he asks me, “Guess how old I am?” I look and think. Then I answer, “ I’d say mid 70s and possibly 80.” He laughs hysterically, “I am 90 years old. I’ll take that as a huge compliment.” I tell him, “How can this be? You’re very active and energetic for 90 years and yet you still ride your bike around. What’s your secret to living a long time?” He smiles back and says, “The more you stay positive regardless of the difficulties you’re going through, the more you smile and be grateful, the more you joke and have a sense of humor, then surely you’ll live a long life. Not just a long life but a happy long life.” This 90 year old Belorussian man’s word were full of gold. It made me think and remind myself that no matter what we are facing in life, that we must be happy and grateful to the creator above for this life full of opportunity and self growth. I hope this story gives you some incentive on being happy and having a sense of humor.
The Maxwell Zone 