Jun 26, 2018
Those Who Have Never Been in a War, Do Not Know the Joy of Peace
It is time to end living soft.
It was, wait, I forgot the date, but I do remember the time and the feeling of doing the almost impossible. I left home at 11 AM sharp (an OCD for time). With comfortable raiment on and earphones throbbing with party music, I left my home for a walk. A long long walk. The route was already decided and the tentative time to complete the walk too.
I complete my walk and reach home by almost 8 PM. That day, I walked almost 40 Kms (thanks to Google Maps).
Yes, you heard me. I walked 40 kms in a day. To athletes this number may seem normal, while to normal people it may seem almost impossible. Regardless of it being a impossible task or not, I did learn a couple of lessons that day and thus I am glad I went for a walk that day.
Here are the lessons you need to know:
There are other people
When was the last time you ‘actually’ were fully aware about your surroundings? That there are people around you. Human beings. Homo-sapiens. Huh?
Have you actually given a thought that these people in the picture below are humans just like you? They have seen struggles and happiness just like you. They are an instance of you. It is called empathy. Putting yourself in their shoes.
Don’t commit the Fundamental Attribution Error. Understand them. But first, understand yourself.
I saw people when I was walking. So many people, trying to find order in their chaotic life. Selling, travelling, shouting, for their survival. All in a hurry to make a living for them or families.
It were euphoric moments all the way. They are all humans, and yet every single person has a different story to tell. They have seen their share of life. Some are proud, while others are struggling.
Then again, all these thoughts about people living different lives gave way to another beautiful yet unanswered question:
Why are we here?
There is no point of discussing this point here because I cannot give you an answer. But, this thought came to my mind.
I couldn’t help but think about this question. Why are we even here?
You are reading this article right now, for reasons known to you. After this, you may sleep, take a ride, or even share this article (you will, right?). Have you ever thought why are you doing this? Don’t tell me to improve yourself. That is obvious. But, go a little higher. The mystic level and ask yourself, why?
Nobody knows, but that doesn’t mean we stop asking questions. I never thought I would walk 40 kms but I did and I learned these lessons. You may not get an answer to the question but you may stumble upon something great. That definitely is a possibility.
Actually, this reminds me about my favorite author, ‘Dan Brown’, who wrote a deliciously intriguing novel about the two important questions that mankind is yet to answer:
Where did we come from?, and
Where are we going?
If you haven’t read the novel yet, you are missing on an amazing thrilling experience. I would bet on my life to recommend his book: “Origin”. You get to live his novels. I do. Such an amazing person. I wonder where does God manufacture people like Dan Brown? (I bet Dan Brown will have an answer)
I am sorry to have deviated from the topic. He is truly a mentor for me.
Nature is beautiful
I can guarantee you that you have never enjoyed nature to what it is. Heck, I can bet on that. You know why? Because when I was walking the distance, I noticed two phenomena:
The surroundings were beautiful.
People around me didn’t realize that.
I have seen this all over the globe. Now don’t tell me this, the act of clicking this picture, is enjoying the nature:
You went out there and suddenly you see this picturesque landscape and you are like ‘aw, it is so beautiful; let me click a picture’. Next thing you know, your D-SLR is out and you are clicking pictures, trying to click the best one, and then worrying about the editing, and then contemplating that where are you going to share it…STOP!
Did you even realize that doing all this you already lost the moment? The sunset is gone. The clouds have moved on. What did you live? Instagram and Facebook likes? If that is what you are living for, I feel sorry for you. I will not see anything sad as this.
What should you do?
First, switch off your phone, then:
Go out there. As soon as you spot something like the above, stop and just…stop. I mean it. Stop thinking about anything. Keep looking and take it all in. Then, lie down on the grass on your back, close your eyes, and LIVE…!!!
Wow. I am getting emotional here.
You Can Do the Impossible
In my entire life that I lived, did I ever think I would be able to walk 40 kms in a single day? No sir. When I started walking that day, again I had no clue that I would walk almost 40 kms.
But, I did. And I am proud of it.
Do not pray for an easy life. Pray for the strength to endure a difficult one. — Bruce Lee
If I didn’t think I could walk 40 kms in a day, how did I do it?
Well, I guess the answer is in three sentences:
I did not plan. I just started walking.
I knew I could do it.
The first step is to establish that something is possible; then probability will occur. — Elon Musk
There was no plan whatsoever except for the route that I had to take. All I wanted to do was to walk. So, that is what I did. I started and I kept walking. But, there is another side to this story as well.
Prior that day, I had been planning to go on a walk for weeks. I am not kidding. I postponed week after week until that fateful day. Because I just wanted to walk. That’s all.
I remembered another influencer of mine, whose book I had read a couple months back and it helped me that day. The name of the book in itself is enough to convey my point: ‘Screw it. Let’s do It’ by ‘Richard Branson’. A person on top of more than 400 companies, so I am sure he knows what he is talking about.
Thus, I kept walking and walking and walking and I did the impossible.
Pain can be pleasure
I guess I don’t have to elaborate the ‘pain’ here. Walking 40 kms is not impossible but it definitely is not easy. I started getting sore feet and tiredness in the midway. I still kept walking.
I felt pain. I did. But, I don’t know why that pain was different. Pain felt good. At that time if you would have asked me, how are you feeling? My answer would have been: Amazing. Fabulous. Great.
There is pleasure in pain too.
Ask athletes or body builders. If you are one of these, you know what I am talking about. I am just a one timer, but for these people, they live for the pain. They go to the gym or the race track to feel that pain.
They don’t just love the pain, they live the pain.
At the end of it all…
Take these home with you:
- I did the walk because I read one book. I questioned my existence because I read another book. The point is obvious. Reading books will never go in vain. Start reading. You will experience real love.
- Empathy. Understand that we are all living our own hell. Do not judge.
- Listen. The path to a great relationship is to listen. Listen to understand, not to reply.
- You can do what you think you cannot do. Believe in yourself and start. Do not plan. Screw it and do it.
- Take time off and wander in a forest. That may be too much, but yeah do take time to embrace nature. You will fall in love again. And remember: Switch off the damn phone. :)
- It is said that humans follow pleasure and avoid pain. And yet in cases we love the pain more than we love pleasure. In times, defy the status quo and bleed red.
Ready for more?
Thank you very much for your time. Clap as many times you thought was this post worth reading.
See you tomorrow. Until then, stay safe.
