Harmony

According to scientific studies, humans make far greater use of tools than any other living species on earth, and the reasoning behind this is the fact that they have a highly developed brain and are capable of abstracting reasoning, language, introspection and problem solving. Their mental capability, considered by many as a blessing, is what makes them superior and differentiates them from all other living species.

Little has it been said about human vulnerability. Perhaps, what most appraise and believe to be a blessing is what makes us susceptible. The highly developed brain of humans is what leads truths to become elusive sometimes, for humans can certainly find ways to hide the truth.  We may expose others’ weaknesses by manipulation, fraud and gerrymandering. The human brain and its capability of contemplation can discard every trace of humanity within us. It can unexpectedly change the roles we were destined to play, and can create terrible situations, and although such scenarios are undesirable, they are justified; for only when terrible things happen do we remember God, only when terrible things happen do we start appreciating the little fears and start begging God to take away the dreadful horrors and replace them with the little ones. Only when terrible things happen do we start seeing our blessings as quaint, and only in such situations do we grow stronger and start facing the reasons that used to leave us shaking with rage.

When difficult times hit the fan in our lives, we should take advantage of the one differentiator; our brain, and use it to remind ourselves that every adverse occurrence also carries the seed of potential development to bring us both individually and communally into greater unity. We must always remind ourselves that there is a reason behind everything in this ultimately benevolent universe. Every blessing can turn into a tragedy, and in every challenge we go through, grace can be found.

Kite Flying

 While feeling down, she started surfing the web, trying to find ways to get over her melancholy. She held her laptop, opened the Internet browser, and googled the word ‘depression’. Many articles appeared in front of her eyes, but only 1 topic interested her, in fact, 2 words, which were the title of the article caught her attention the most and were the reason that pulled her towards reading that specific piece of literature: Kite Flying.

 It has been scientifically proven that kite flying can help people deal with negative emotions through different ways. Firstly, as we all know, one has to be outdoors to fly a kite, and being outdoors is a proven natural remedy for dealing with such emotions. Secondly, kite flying is an easy yet challenging way to do something productive and build confidence. Thirdly, it is a welcome distraction from negative emotions. Just like any other hobby, kite flying gives a focal point towards which one can turn their negative feelings into positive energy.

                 She shut down her laptop and went to buy a kite

 While outside trying to fly it after several failed attempts, she realized that the kite hadn’t been flying due to the fact that the towing point was set too far back. Hence, she decided to shift it forward towards the nose of the kite a little, and try again. She kept adjusting by a small amount until the kite willingly climbed into the air. She felt relieved and pondered for a moment: “Willingly climbed into the air”.

 She started observing the kite more pedantically, and came to the conclusion that hand launching is all about balance. Whenever she let the line out too slow, the kite came low down when the wind died, and each time she let it out too quick, the kite lost height, at some point all the way to the ground.

 Not only did she enjoy flying the kite, she also came to learn that climbing kites is a process of letting out line when the tension is strong, and holding on when the tension is light.  

 Incongruous she thought, that article should have had a fourthly; understanding emotions and learning how to deal with stress. The kite more or less resembled her; she learnt that just like the kite, which willingly climbed, she willingly had the option to lift her own emotions up. As difficult as it may seem at first, after futile attempts, it is something that is bound to happen and will happen, once we learn how to balance our lives, how to balance our feelings, things become easier, qualms become clearer and we become more efficient in controlling our emotions and knowing when to let go and when to hold on to certain things.

            After all, life is as fun and challenging as flying a kite