It’s a Short Journey After All
An elderly lady was travelling on a bus. At the next stop, a strapping angry-looking young woman boarded the bus and sat down next to the old lady. The bad-tempered young woman repeatedly knocked her big, heavy bag against the old lady, seemingly indifferent to the pain she was causing. When she realized that the old woman made no signs or attempts to speak up against her, the young woman asked her, ‘How come you didn’t complain when I kept hitting you with my bag?’
The old lady smiled and replied, ‘I don’t see any reason to appear uncivilized and make a big deal out of such an insignificant thing. Besides, my journey with you is for a very short time. I am getting off at the next stop. The elderly woman’s reply were truly golden words — ‘There is no need to discuss or debate over little, insignificant things when the journey together is going to last for only a short while’. The foremost principle we should all come to realize is that our journey on earth is for such a limited time that it would be ridiculous to waste our time and energy on useless arguments, unforgiving attitudes, dissatisfaction and bad behaviour.
Has someone broken your heart? Take it easy. It’s a short journey. Has someone cheated, threatened or offended you? Keep your cool. Don’t stress it. The journey is brief. Has someone undeservedly insulted you? Remain calm. Ignore it. It’s a very short-lived journey after all. Has a neighbour ever given you uncalled-for advice which irritated you? Maintain your composure. Turn a deaf ear to it. Forget and forgive it. It’s trivial and your journey together is so short. No matter the hurdles people place in our way, it will bode well for us to always call to mind that our journey together is for a very limited time. One cannot possibly fathom how long any relationship will last before it comes to an end. The journey of ‘being together’ is short-lived and has an end point.
So, let’s appreciate our friends and our families. Let’s be kind, respectful and cultivate a forgiving attitude. Spread your warmth and smile often. By doing so, we will be overcome with feelings of gratitude and joy. After all, in this fast-paced existence, our time together is inconsequentially small. The entire world has been grappling against a global pandemic for the last year and a half! Let’s be compassionate and preserve humanity. Our journey together is, indeed, very short.