Commentary

We have to combine resources and eliminate hate

November 29, 2023   ·   0 Comments

Of all the beautiful emotions and reactions that our species is capable of, hatred reigns. It has been with us, like some unshakable callous, for millennia. It may very well be our undoing. Despite cries from prophets, seers and leaders of all shapes and sizes, this one aspect of humankind is most disturbing. And it seems it’s always there, like a dark shadow, right behind us.

Customer ‘disservice’ quickly getting old

In commerce, it was once believed that the “customer was always right.” To an extend that holds true today. Of course, customers are not always right, but to ensure good relations, customers are given the benefit of the doubt. They are treated well, to ensure a return visit. In most cases at retail and fast food outlets, customer complaints are quickly dealt with. I have witnessed many over the years, but few have ever escalated to full-scale shouting matches. That’s something we all want to avoid.

There’s a ‘fleetingness’ to it all

We try to grasp the “big picture” of it all and yet we are faced with the cold, hard truth that life is fleeing. Our lifespans are mere minutes on the celestial clock, the timelessness of the universe. Unlike the stars and planets that whiz through space, we are not eternal, everlasting. Some of us may indeed see everlasting life if sufficiently blessed. But it won’t be in our current form.

‘Kindness Day’ should really be every day

The Dalai Lama said his religion is simply, “kindness.” Kindness isn’t really about kind acts. It’s more about integrity, honesty, generosity and even moral courage. Lady Gaga said kindness healed her and Jean-Jacques Rousseau said there’s no greater wisdom than kindness. By definition, kindness is “a type of behaviour marked by acts of generosity, consideration, rendering assistance, or concern for others without expecting praise or reward in return.”

Pluses and minuses; the ledger of life

When we prepare for a job, role or volunteer position, we’re often asked about our pluses and minuses. Of course we brag a bit about what we bring to the table, and downplay our negative qualities. When we really do a deep dive into our personal numbers – the proverbial ledger of life – it’s quite a different story.

Gizmos cause us a multitude of frustrations

Things that are annoying usually stay that way. If you think about it, almost all of the frustrating gizmos, contraptions, machines and items have inherent weaknesses. They are prone to failure, just like us. We modern-day consumers believe that when we plunk down our money on a new gizmo, it should serve us for years to come. Alas, feeble humans, we are doomed by our own creations.

Some things really do last forever

There are times when I think about how fleeting our lives are. After seven or eight decades on the planet (if we’re lucky) what remains of our existence? Well, let’s take a look at that, shall we?

Life is really about helping others

Nelson Mandela once said that overcoming poverty is not a task of charity, it is an act of justice. Poverty is not natural, it’s man-made and can be overcome and eradicated by the actions of human beings. And Martin Luther King Jr. asked: “What are you doing for others?"

New words spoiling the language

There are more than one million distinct words in the English language. Most of use only 25,000 words on a regular basis. And yet, we keep adding to the list and making our trusty dictionaries that much larger. There are a few that make me cringe, every time I hear or read them.

Can we ever really ‘get it right’ in our lives?

After all these years, I still don’t know if I’ve gotten it right. I shed tears instead of burdens. Behind my smiles and smirks are other things, dark things, nagging things. Last week I received some positive news about my health, but surprisingly, I didn’t know what to do with that information. Should I celebrate? Should I be relieved? I almost felt lost, without such a burden hanging over me. Now what do I do?

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