Share It.

It’s very common for people to feel alone. Like no one really sees them or understands or cares when push comes to shove. I think we’ve set up a crazy world where we close ourselves off from each other. The “village” is hard to find these days, and if you want to be part of a tribe, you’d better create your own (thus this blog ;-)). The reality is, we are never alone. We’re all in this thing together, and although we may have different stories, heartbreaks, losses, joys, hopes, fears, pain, anguish, struggles, memories, families, cultures…we are all made of the same stuff. We are a huge family living together not as peacefully as we could, on a floating rock. (If you want to get really serious, we ARE the rock, we are the ocean, the trees, the sun, there is no one of us without the other, separation is an illusion).

We’ve created a culture that celebrates survival of the fittest, but I believe most people are depressed by that, even if they don’t know it. Because if we’re against each other, if we must compete, then we set ourselves up for constant comparing and contrasting. How am I doing compared to that guy over there? How’d he get so far ahead of me? I must suck. But not as much as that poor bastard way behind me. It’s not a loving outlook. And it’s a recipe for alienation, for keeping our vulnerabilities to ourselves (better protect that jugular), so where is the trust? Where’s the possibility of saying, “I’m scared. I know I’m going to die one day and I’m not sure why I’m here!”. Or, “I know why I’m here, but I’m too afraid to act on it”. Or simply, “I could really use a shoulder right now, I’m confused. Nothing is working out like the picture in my head”. Without each other, it’s a cold and lonely existence.

Joy, peace and happiness come from the uncovering of your own particular gifts, and the fulfillment that results from giving those gifts away, freely, fully, with abandon. The beauty in life exists in the sharing, in the connection. That’s your purpose, my purpose, and the guy behind and in front of you. It’s not a competition. The person with the most stuff is not going to win. The person with the greatest ability to tap into that enormous well of love within them and spread it, fling it, far and wide…that’s a person who’s going to lead a very happy life. That’s a person who’s going back for the guy way behind them to lend a hand. To spread some joy. To shine a light and say, “This way, my friend!! Over here!’ Because it’s a gift, this life. We are in the dark in many ways, and have forgotten the light is inside. You dig through the tunnel until you find it, and then you shine it out with everything you’ve got. And until you can do that, you reach for the hand of someone who’s found theirs. We’re supposed to take care of each other. We’re family. And I may not have met you, but I love you and am thankful to be on this floating rock with you. Ally

3 thoughts on “Share It.”

  1. Well put Ally! I WAS that person–survival of the fittest, confident (full of fear), loud, cocky, contrasting to those around me, and climbing the ladder. Then a change in management, lost my temper, my focus, and eventually, lost my way when depression all but ended me. I’m sure many in the office basked in schadenfreude.

    When I came out of that pit years later, I was one of “them” at work: sitting in a corner, abandoned by the in-crowd, my crew all but gone, and completely ignored but anyone I felt mattered. I was lucky to still have my job. I worked through the hideous pain of all that, and here’s what was on the other side: The only solution was rooted in love. I had to abandon every semblance of being #1 (or 2, 3, etc.), surrender getting even or “showing them”, and find out how to live to good measure.

    Today I walk in to that job, say good morning to all, and seek out the marginalized, the unloved, and the unwanted. We all know them. They’re the ones we avoid, the strange birds, the bridge-burners, the corporate lepers. Truth is, they’re the people really keeping me alive, keeping me focused outward. There are so many human beings out there, “shelved”. And if I don’t make an effort to love them, who will? THAT is why I go to work now. And if my management wants to shove me and my desk in the basement with a can of bug spray, so be it! 🙂

    When people leave their job, or this world for that matter, no one gives two craps how many widgets they built, how much money they made, or whether my name landed in the paper with some project I’m working on. But they’ll remember being loved. And ya know, it really doesn’t matter in the end, but I bet they kinda love me too. That’s sweet karma on my rusty old heart. That’s my gift! But I could have never developed that gift had I not been put through the wringer. Hey man, now I’m really livin’, and I can’t wait to go in to work today.

    Great article!

    Reply

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