Empty Platitudes

If there is some positive takeaway I can give to others before I go it is this:

There is far, far too much hurt in this world.  Averting your eyes, looking away, looking down, trying to ignore another human being in pain is weak.  Being jaded, cold, unfeeling or taking a hard line with someone who is in pain is cowardice.

Every single day, we are confronted with people suffering whether it be sorrow from a break-up or death of a loved one or being in a place where you go hungry and are cold at night, it’s everywhere.  This world, life, it’s a ************.  It isn’t fair.  It is hard.  We are often left to feel all alone in the Universe.  And the truth is, because we are, but not for any good reason.  As human beings we fail every time we allow another person to suffer.  Walking away from someone –especially someone you know — because you don’t have time or because you can’t get involved is a direct reflection of your own humanity.  The unwillingness to take a few moments and show compassion and empathy to another; the refusal to absorb a little pain to alleviate the suffering of someone else shows how screwed up our priorities are and how little we think of our own existence.  At very least, we should be able to draw from our own experiences and our own hurts to make sure that we never say or do something to another person that has proven hurtful to us in the past.

I have never objected to people taking their own life to end their suffering.  Granted, they probably acted in a short-sighted manner, but given the failings of people around them, it is understandable.  What I do object to is allowing other people to needlessly suffer.  It’s a shame people can’t pry themselves away from an episode of American Idol long enough to go check up on a friend.  It sickens me that someone in need calls a buddy and is sent straight to voicemail.

Things do not have to be this way.  You can’t love everyone, that’s an empty platitude that does more harm than good.  You can, however, reflect the decency of your own humanity to take a few moments consoling someone else.