The Story of Life
I remembered a dialogue from the HBO series Six Feet Under. It went something like this: "What is it like being dead?" asked the little girl. "Its kinda cool when i think about it.", replied the spirit. "No more work, no more pretending, no more trying to fit in, no more boredom!" No more boredom… Quite an interesting answer, i thought to myself. Somehow I understood what the spirit was implying. Think of your life. How has it been? Many would suggest "boring". Hey, I do not blame people who answer that way. In fact, I would rather hear such an honest answer than a fictitious crap. I, honestly believe that majority of the human race live a very boring life, regardless of his occupation, status, popularity and most of all wealth. A large percentage of suicides are commited by wealthy and influential people. Many would wonder why. After all his fortune, achievements and decorations, why would someone end his life? If you look at Maslow’s heirarchy of needs, you will notice that the top most portion of human needs is self-fulfillment. This means that only after man has already acquired the basic needs and wants for normal living, can he start realizing his need for self-fulfillment. So the question to be asked is: "Are they still not fullfilled with their lives?" I too do not fully understand their actions. But I do know one thing for sure. Wealth does not equate to fullfillment. Fame also does not equate to fullfillment. Achievements, honors, women, having a big family with lots of kids, even having a school/hospital/street/holiday named after you, all does not equate to fulfillment. I must continue… Work is also not fulfilling. That’s one of the most unfulfilling things man has ever invented. You work for what? Money? Money for what? Food, clothing, shelter, car, stuffs, what else? "There are many things money can’t buy, but for everything else there’s MasterCard." Quite a paradoxical slogan. This culture of relating money to success has spawned a new kind of philosophy. An alienating philosophy in which the most successful are almost always the most lonely. Money has become such a dominant figure in man’s ambition and dreams. We feel its influence even more living in a third world country. Everywhere you feel its power. It fills up the hearts of every man. I can feel the greed with the breath he takes and the words he speak. Its the Eye of Sauron, with its relentless drawing power. And they are like hungry lions out to devour you of your every cent. But people are totally missing the point(.) This is the exact reason why life has become so boring. People just don’t care anymore. Its all about the money. It’s all about the dum dum dah dee dum dum.. Everyday people are rushing. Walking briskly. The rhythmic sounds of heels tapping on the concrete. Small steps, big steps. Then running to the shortest queue. Small steps, big steps. Then runs to the street to hail an unoccupied cab. So many people in a rush? For what? For all I know, they are rushing towards their own demise. Unknowingly, people are getting sicker everyday. No wonder heart attack is still the number one killer in the world. Everyone’s in a rush!!! I am a person who loves to observe in counter-tempo (kontra-tiempo). I feel that by doing this I get to see things you would tend to ignore when riding with the tempo. Especially during stressful times, this technique helps you to relax and think more clearly. I look around at my surroundings and observe the people. What they’re doing, how they are behaving and trying to understand what they’re talking about. I’m not being a chismoso, but when I’m observing, I feel like unbound to the constraints of this world. As if living in a different dimension, invisible and unaffected by the world. This space and time reticulum. This hectic world of money and gossips. I just stop and then reflect. I reflect on the things that had happened. That the guy in long sleeves who accidentally stepped on my heels, was in such a hurry because of a meeting with his boss. I suppose that he be punctual less he wants to lose his job. Or that the cab driver who earlier led me to a more scenic route was only doing so just to break even with the rental of his cab. It is at this point that I feel most human. I begin to empathize with the people around me. Thinking that I might not have acted so differently from them when facing the same situation. We are all human beings after all, with feelings and emotions. We maybe unique in some ways. But there are things that are universally upheld. Like love and compassion. If people could only take the time to observe, then maybe the world would be a happier place. I guess that’s what the people are missing. That’s what everybody is wanting all along. Maybe that’s the reason why life’s such a bore. All these rudeness, cynicism, dishonesty, insincerity and greed is because of the absence of this thing. The reason for our creation. The reason why an awesome and infinite Creator will allow his Son to be mocked, spitted upon, beaten, pierced and then nailed and left to die on a cross. It was, from the very Genesis and will be until the End, all about this thing. The meaning of life. The purpose of life. This thing called LOVE.
June 23rd, 2005 at 1:35 am
you my friend are a writer! you have managed to put into words what my own mind could not even piece together into points that would make absolute sense to other people or even myself. refreshingly inspired!