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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright May 2024
A young lady sat in a bus. At the next stop, a loud and grumpy old lady squeezed into the seat next to her, bumping her with numerous bags.
The person on the other side of the young lady became upset and asked why she didn’t speak up. The young lady responded with a smile, “It is not necessary to be rude or argue over something so insignificant. The journey together is so short. I get off at the next stop.”
This simple yet profound response encapsulates a valuable lesson: "It is not necessary to argue over something so insignificant; our journey together is so short."
If each of us realized that our time here is fleeting, we might avoid darkening it with quarrels, futile arguments, discontentment, and a fault-finding attitude. As Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic philosopher, wisely noted, the happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.
Our thoughts and attitudes shape our experiences, and we must strive to maintain a perspective of peace and understanding.
Did someone break your heart? Be calm, the journey is so short.
Did someone provoke or intimidate you? Be calm, forgive; the journey is so short.
Did someone betray, bully, cheat, or humiliate you? Be calm, forgive; the journey is so short.
The philosopher Seneca also reminds us that life is long if you know how to use it. Our time is precious, and how we choose to respond to life's challenges defines the quality of our journey. We should not let trivial matters consume us.
Whatever troubles others bring us, let us remember that our journey together is brief. No one knows the duration of this journey or when their stop will come. As the existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre said, we are our choices. Choosing kindness, patience, and forgiveness enriches our shared journey.
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) also offered profound wisdom on this matter, that is the strong person is not the one who can overpower others. Rather, the strong person is the one who controls himself when he is angry.
This teaches us the value of maintaining composure and treating others with compassion, even in trying circumstances.
Let us cherish our friends and family. Let us be respectful, kind, and forgiving to one another. Let us be filled with gratitude and gladness. As the Dalai Lama beautifully put it, be kind whenever possible.
If I have ever hurt you, I ask for your forgiveness. If you have ever hurt me, you already have my forgiveness.
After all, our journey together is so short. God bless you and have a safe journey.
Mihar Dias is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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