Today, X said to me and V (and U and Z and C were also sitting around the table as usual), "So many young people try to do things one way and when it doesn't work, they get depressed." I thought about a lot of young people and I noticed a few things...
Like E, for example. If E would only zoom out for a second she would see how ridiculous she is. Everyone can see that E has been provided for and spoon-fed for most of her life. She has been given so much attention from her family that she has come to expect this even of others. Every time someone comes to me with a new story about E, I am reminded that what we do is not for the purpose of building an extended family of people who will buy us presents, call us when we are lonely, entertain us. It is to identify and develop fellow fighters in the struggle to win against the enemy.
Or like F, who thinks that his main problem is that he doesn't know how to deal with people who are different. Even before the "dealing" part, he doesn't admit that he doesn't even know anything about these people, how they think, what motivates them, etc. He looks down on them, thinks he has them figured out, and they (being sophisticated animals) do something unscripted. They deviate from the ideal, the ideal being progressive, open-minded and selfless. I too used to think l.....s were just blood-sucking parasites, but they're actually very good at what they do. And I realized that I have a lot to learn from them.
Finally G. She thinks she is only being used, but doesn't see how this is not pure. Of course people want to use you if you are useful, and of course it's no use to be useless, but in the middle of that desire to use you is there not some kernel of a desire to find truth in you as well? Being among the almost totally useless people myself, it's hard to relate to G sometimes. But I can imagine what she is going through, how overwhelming it might be, how hard it might be to quickly seize opportunities and be creative. But isn't that the whole point? Again, I've never been a very creative person, but I do like to be near those people who are always finding new things to try and new ways to solve old problems.
Today I am reminded that I need to zoom out, know that I don't know, and find people who have fresh ideas. And not get depressed when my ideas inevitably don't work out.
Like E, for example. If E would only zoom out for a second she would see how ridiculous she is. Everyone can see that E has been provided for and spoon-fed for most of her life. She has been given so much attention from her family that she has come to expect this even of others. Every time someone comes to me with a new story about E, I am reminded that what we do is not for the purpose of building an extended family of people who will buy us presents, call us when we are lonely, entertain us. It is to identify and develop fellow fighters in the struggle to win against the enemy.
Or like F, who thinks that his main problem is that he doesn't know how to deal with people who are different. Even before the "dealing" part, he doesn't admit that he doesn't even know anything about these people, how they think, what motivates them, etc. He looks down on them, thinks he has them figured out, and they (being sophisticated animals) do something unscripted. They deviate from the ideal, the ideal being progressive, open-minded and selfless. I too used to think l.....s were just blood-sucking parasites, but they're actually very good at what they do. And I realized that I have a lot to learn from them.
Finally G. She thinks she is only being used, but doesn't see how this is not pure. Of course people want to use you if you are useful, and of course it's no use to be useless, but in the middle of that desire to use you is there not some kernel of a desire to find truth in you as well? Being among the almost totally useless people myself, it's hard to relate to G sometimes. But I can imagine what she is going through, how overwhelming it might be, how hard it might be to quickly seize opportunities and be creative. But isn't that the whole point? Again, I've never been a very creative person, but I do like to be near those people who are always finding new things to try and new ways to solve old problems.
Today I am reminded that I need to zoom out, know that I don't know, and find people who have fresh ideas. And not get depressed when my ideas inevitably don't work out.
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