Don’t ever
feel embarrassed to admit that you are sad. If you are feeling low and lost,
accept it, express it!
There are times in
Life when you feel lost, tired, worn out and vulnerable. It happens to all of
us. And when it does feel that way, the best thing to do is to share what you
are feeling like. You will then find that the whole world around you comes together
to make you feel warm and wanted. Truly, there’s more compassion in the world
than you can even fathom – though, most often, it just doesn’t appear that way
at all!
Most of the time
we fight shy of sharing what we are going through with others because we wonder
what they will think of us. Or we don’t want to “burden” others with our “sob
stories”. Or perhaps, we don’t want to take any help from anyone should any be
forthcoming after we share openly. There could be several other reasons. But
all such justification does no good – neither to our morale nor to the
situation. And, of course, many of us like to blame God for our trials,
tribulations and fate!
A man was once
sitting forlorn on the steps of a temple that he used to visit every day. His
wife had deserted him. As had his young adult children. Because he was always
grumpy, he had even become a social outcast. No one wanted to even call him to
find out if he was alive or dead. That day, the man was very lonely and was
feeling miserable. At the temple, where he meditated daily for an hour, the man
had prayed for someone to whom he could tell his woes and cry his heart out. He
asked God, in his prayer, if God could appear before him. After meditating, as
he sat on the temple steps, a middle-aged woman approached him. She wore
tattered clothes. But she looked very beautiful. There was twinkle in her eye.
She approached the man for alms. When he looked away, the lady asked him if he
needed help. She said, “You look lost and sad. If you want to share your grief,
I can offer you a patient hearing.” The man simply continued to look away. She
waited around for about an hour. And then she walked away. The next day, the
man sat down for meditation again, at the temple. He asked God why God had not
heard his prayer. Suddenly God spoke in his ear: “I heard you loud and clear. I
even came up to you and asked you if you needed to share. I was willing to
listen. But you looked away.” The man realized his folly and vowed never to
take a prayer lightly again!
That’s pretty much
the way many of us are. We don’t want to accept that we are feel low, weak and
lost. We don’t want to share our grief when someone reaches out. We don’t want
to express what we feel about ourselves, about Life. Indeed, to wear your Life
on your sleeve or not, is a personal choice. But if you choose not to, don’t
pine anymore about your situation. Don’t wallow in self-pity and grief. It
doesn’t get you anywhere. People are so busy with their own lives, they have no
time to “surmise” that you may be having a problem and that you need help. But
if you bring it up, and share it openly, people will pause to listen and help.
Or connect you with someone that can help. Or perhaps they will give you a hug
– which will make you feel warm and wanted. Or, surely, they will pray for you!
At the end
of the day, it’s your acceptance of your feeling low and lost and your humbly
seeking help that leads people to shower compassion on you!
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