Laugh and let go

If we were all extremely honest and straight forward, I think we'd all agree that all of us have a share of complains about the people around us. It might be small and simple things at first, but as we look closer we might realize that the things we like about them are much lesser compared to the things we dislike. I have my fair few share of complains too.
We live in a world where people tend to care about some one more after the person is dead. Where they get to know about them more after they are no more. We live in a world where people love their pet dogs more then their relatives. A world where it is a big deal and a hell of an achievement for a girl to go alone in an auto. A world where we are taught to follow religion and to worship God because otherwise, no one would really care. A world where the threat of hell is given to get things done. A world where the biggest mistake we make is thinking that every friend we have is our best friend. Where, we don't even realize that having a best friend is a very rare thing.
We live in a world where we give out money more than we give love. A world where, if you wear expensive clothes and too much jewellery, you get judged and if you wear faded clothes and no jewellery, you still get judged. If you're too thin, you're judged, if you're fat you're judged. If you're fair, you're judged, if you're dark you're judged. Basically every choice you make from the time you're born is being observed and judged. So, you might as well do what you want, right?
We live in a world where, a person is misunderstood by the company they keep. How can we not see that every person with God's grace has their individual thinking and their own instincts and a sense of right and wrong. They are given their choice to do what they want and they should be strong enough to not get influenced by their company, and if they do get influenced, then its STILL their fault. The choices WE make cannot be blamed on others.
We all know that if we look at the negatives, then we can go on and on cribbing and complaining about it. There are so many, that a whole book can be written on it and even then as we grow up, we can find more.

But, let's a take a moment. Let's not forget this. We live in a world where our mom gets sick worried if we don't text or call whenever we go out. A world where, she'd stay up even the whole night, just waiting for you to come home. Where, the last piece of cake is definitely yours if you like it and even if she loves it. A world where, she makes sure you are comfortable with something before she thinks about her own comfort. A world where even if you don't know her likes and dislikes, she'll know all of yours. A world where, 'home food' and 'outside food' can make all the difference in the world. Where, even if you don't get what you want, you still have what you need. A world where you are blessed enough to go back home to a family dinner where silence, arguments, jokes, stories and fights, everything is equally remembered and cherished. Where you know that wherever you are and whatever you're doing, you have a home to go back to. Where, it might be easy to fight with others, but its too hard to fight with your mom because that's how much you need her. Where, no matter how many people come and go, she will always be there and make sure you always get what you need. When you're sick, happy, sad, worried, angry, confused, flustered- how ever you're feeling, you can always fall and expect to be held by her.
Who cares about the rest of the world?
If you have a home and a family, you already have everything you need.
And if you still feel horrible about the rest of the world, then go to sleep, wake up with swollen eyes and press repeat. Life will eventually get tired of playing the same song over and over again.

Black curtain

Mom said this would be a good idea. She said I need to talk to people. She said I look depressed. But, looks can be deceiving, can’t they? I adjust my black shades on my nose, which seem to be heavier than they should, really. My palms are sweaty from holding my cane which I refuse to keep aside even though I’m sitting on a stool. I know where I am only by the smell of the familiar aroma that is dancing from the kitchen. I can hear chattering around me, but I don’t catch a word until I hear my name in the conversation, someone says, keeping a firm hand on my shoulder, “How are you now?” It’s my aunt’s voice and I think, “My eyes just stopped functioning, how do you think I am?” but I don’t let the words escape, instead I swallow them up, “I’ve been better” I say. I hear her move in front of me and drag a stool, she settles down right next to me, so close that her knee touches mine every time she moves even slightly.  I feel uncomfortable sitting there, I feel abnormal in my own skin somehow like my brain is with me but I’m in someone else’s body. I guess that’s just what being blind feels like, right? My personal black curtain in front of me makes it hard for me to try to concentrate on anything else. I wonder what other people look like when they are laughing, I wonder what kind of hand gestures they are using, I try and think about how many other people might be sitting alone right now. And then I think about all those people who might be staring at me, wondering what it must feel like to be blind, feeling sympathy for me and I sink a little more into my skin. It’s funny how you depend so much on all your other senses when your eyes aren’t being eyes. Simple things like smell, touch and sound begin to give life to everything around you. Being blind is supposed to have made me lose something, but instead all I could feel is the gain of my other senses. This thought somehow makes me feel more powerful among all the people I am sitting with.

Naqiyah Hasan

Forgiveness

Okay, let’s be real here.  Life isn’t always going to be rainbows and butterflies. People are going to hurt you and break your heart and talk shit behind your back. They’re going to mislead you and break your trust and shatter your faith. But at the end of the day, you have to forgive. You have to learn to give them the benefit of the doubt. Give them another chance. It’s only human to make mistakes and you need to remember that if you were on the other end, you’d want forgiveness too. Sometimes, even when they don’t ask for it, you still have to forgive them. Not just for them, but even for yourself. Because when you forgive someone, you’re not only freeing them from the burden of their sin, you’re freeing yourself from it too.
You know you keep wondering, how could they do that? After everything, why?
I suggest you put that aside. Because they’re not gonna have your answers. No one is. They did what they thought was right…or they knew it was wrong and they did it anyway. Irrelevant. Forgive.  And trust me; I know that’s so not fair. But then again, who said life is?
No matter how many times you’ve been hurt or backstabbed is irrelevant. You forgive them anyway. Forgiving people is not foolish or a sign of weakness. Forgiving, in fact, is power. And don’t just say it for the sake of saying it okay? Empty words are better left unsaid. Mean it. Mean each and every alphabet and then see how light you feel. Only when you really do forgive do you realize that you’ve been carrying the burden around with you as much as the person who sinned has. They might not realize their mistake. Forgive them anyway.  They might realize it but not admit to it, still forgive.
If God can forgive all your sins with the blink of an eye, then you can do the same for the people He Himself has created. Forgiveness isn’t even simply about a second chance, it’s also about belief. By forgiving someone you’re showing them that you believe. You believe that they can be better people. That they can do better than this. And honestly, who wouldn’t want to feel that way? Forgive no matter what they did. Nothing can be so punishable that they and you both have to carry it around for your entire life.
“We have to forgive to survive the labyrinth” - John Green