Be a spark but choose the fire
“Why can't just everyone be happy?”
I had this thought when walking to the train station this morning, looking into passing faces. The faces passed, the feeling lingered in the air for longer.
Monday morning. You want to pilot the world's mood on a Monday morning? You're not in for a pleasant surprise.
But go ahead and make a wish. Time to be ridiculously naïve.
Maybe. Probably. Naïve, but equally true, compelling, and important.
And impossible. You can make it a quest, a purpose, a divine calling (if you need to pile up even more motivation to pack some baggage)!
Don't you think it could still serve as a good way to start? To start the day and maybe every thought?
You can pave the road with good intentions, be my guest. After all, you keep complaining how negative I am. If you pick an impossible task, you will come to the dark side, that's for sure!
Then how about I agree with you for once? Maybe the plan is too big to take on as is. I don't know everyone on this planet, and I can influence even fewer people than the ones I know.
I'm glad you see my wisdom. Time to forget the whole topic...
Time to chunk it down!
Come again?
“Why can't just everyone I know be happy?”
Less vague, I give you that, but that's as far as improvement goes. They won't listen. Their faces will pass by as well and haunt you, still enough faces.
Still too big and vague.
I'm glad you see my wisdom. Time to forget the whole topic now...
Time to chunk it further down!
Oh boy.
“Why can't just everyone one person I know be happy?”
And who? Who shall it be? You don't simplify your problem but now you have to choose. Who among them shall it be?
Think about all the ones unchosen. How cruel and selfish of you.
Then how about I agree with you again? If you want selfish, I can give you selfish:
“Why can't I just everyone one person I know be happy?”
Successfully chunked down, I'd say. I can barely go smaller or more specific now.
End of your rope as well: no more abstract philosophy. Now you must get into action. I bet that's scary: you picked a destination, now it's time to leave the house without a map.
Let's hear!
By that time, I hadn't yet reached the train station. The faces still passed me but they seemed to shine inside rather than outside. A constant reminder for their owner rather than a statement for the world.
If they can't pull it off, how in the world will you? Ever?
Do you think you're only working against me? Against yourself?
This world is an economy, making revenue on you trying and failing!
At that point, I didn't feel discouraged or depressed, at least those feelings were not the top of the list.
I started feeling angry. Angry at a vague, ominous something, conspiring against my happiness..
Woohoo, perfect, let's get a Twitter account! Let's bite at anyone in reach, I'm full of ideas!!
And then I stopped.
I didn't stop breathing, I didn't stop hoping, I – probably, deep inside – didn't truly stop being angry.
I stopped walking.
George almost succeeded in getting me to run, in even bigger circles.
He almost succeeded in getting me to spread anger instead of smiles.
I'd love to be a spark.
But not for such a fire.
And I remembered something I read a few years back:
In a society that profits from your self-doubts, being happy is a revolutionary act.
I'm still standing, destination picked, no map in sight. But I've got a purpose for the first step, and the one thereafter.
And maybe today's a great day to smile into some faces I meet on the way...
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