Being sick sucks.
Everything hurts.
And I STILL have to go to work.
Figures.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
A Walk to Remember
I went for a walk tonight. I think I found what I was looking for...
There has been a piece of me missing for quite some time now. Something about the life I build that just didn't feel right. I had lost that spark, that drive that pushed me through each day.
Tonight, I think I realized where that spark had gone.
As I walked through the suburbs of Alma I saw in a window a man smoking a cigarette and watching television; a simple sight that at any other moment I wouldn't have seen any significance in. However for some reason I found some truth in his actions. For at that very moment when the cigarette touched his lips and the ember at the other end lit-up brightly as he inhaled it was damaging his body or that he had paid $0.55 for that one stick that was literally burning away.
($5.55 a pack / 10)
For in that moment when he inhaled and he felt the nicotine taking effect; that slight dizzying euphoria, he was happy. It didn't matter that he would probably be waking up in 8 hours to go stand in line to vote the next person in as president. It didn't matter that he would be tired from staying up late, watching TV and having his last cigarette for the night. He was happy with what he was doing at that very moment.
As I continued on my walk I was greeted by 2 very excited puppies. They were yipping at my legs as I passed by their house. The man carrying the trash to the curb calling out one of their names: "Walter" he said, trying to get their attention.
"Sorry" he said to me as I passed him. "It's no trouble" I replied back.
"I only let them out front one night a week" he said to me after a short pause.
As I was leaving his drive way he continued with: "Nice night, isn't it?"
"Couldn't ask for better" I replied "Too bad It's fleeting."
The man paused for a moment, taking in the sad realization of what I had just said. He looked from me to the clear night sky, filled with stars, and then back to me. "Yes it is" he finally replied, "yes it is."
As I crossed the street I thought about what I had just encountered and it made me think of the man back in his living room finished with his cigarette by now and getting ready for bed.
Those 2 puppies were only allowed 'front yard time' once a week and they were living it up. Running around the bushes; taking in all of the new sights and sounds that weren't there last week. Those puppies for that one moment were truly happy. They were tasting freedom. Both of them knew, in their little puppy brains that in a short while they would be back inside and the excitement would be over for another week. But in the mean time? They were in heaven.
I understand now that life is made up of those small moments. There isn't any amount of money in the world that could replace being truly happy; even for just 5 minutes in the front yard or that last cigarette before bed.
When you come across those small moments that make you truly happy you have to hold on for as long as you can.
Before you know it, it's time for bed....
There has been a piece of me missing for quite some time now. Something about the life I build that just didn't feel right. I had lost that spark, that drive that pushed me through each day.
Tonight, I think I realized where that spark had gone.
As I walked through the suburbs of Alma I saw in a window a man smoking a cigarette and watching television; a simple sight that at any other moment I wouldn't have seen any significance in. However for some reason I found some truth in his actions. For at that very moment when the cigarette touched his lips and the ember at the other end lit-up brightly as he inhaled it was damaging his body or that he had paid $0.55 for that one stick that was literally burning away.
($5.55 a pack / 10)
For in that moment when he inhaled and he felt the nicotine taking effect; that slight dizzying euphoria, he was happy. It didn't matter that he would probably be waking up in 8 hours to go stand in line to vote the next person in as president. It didn't matter that he would be tired from staying up late, watching TV and having his last cigarette for the night. He was happy with what he was doing at that very moment.
As I continued on my walk I was greeted by 2 very excited puppies. They were yipping at my legs as I passed by their house. The man carrying the trash to the curb calling out one of their names: "Walter" he said, trying to get their attention.
"Sorry" he said to me as I passed him. "It's no trouble" I replied back.
"I only let them out front one night a week" he said to me after a short pause.
As I was leaving his drive way he continued with: "Nice night, isn't it?"
"Couldn't ask for better" I replied "Too bad It's fleeting."
The man paused for a moment, taking in the sad realization of what I had just said. He looked from me to the clear night sky, filled with stars, and then back to me. "Yes it is" he finally replied, "yes it is."
As I crossed the street I thought about what I had just encountered and it made me think of the man back in his living room finished with his cigarette by now and getting ready for bed.
Those 2 puppies were only allowed 'front yard time' once a week and they were living it up. Running around the bushes; taking in all of the new sights and sounds that weren't there last week. Those puppies for that one moment were truly happy. They were tasting freedom. Both of them knew, in their little puppy brains that in a short while they would be back inside and the excitement would be over for another week. But in the mean time? They were in heaven.
I understand now that life is made up of those small moments. There isn't any amount of money in the world that could replace being truly happy; even for just 5 minutes in the front yard or that last cigarette before bed.
When you come across those small moments that make you truly happy you have to hold on for as long as you can.
Before you know it, it's time for bed....
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