Tragedy

There are two tragedies in life. One is to lose your heart's desire. The other is to gain it. -George Bernard Shaw

Do you ever get that rush when you're doing something you love to do, and you know right then that you'd gladly die without any regrets, doing what you love at that precise moment? Or if you achieve something by yourself, and know that in a way it's made you complete? They always say, life's not about what you do, but who you are, but in some way, doesn't what you do make you who you are, with all the right and wrong reasons taken into account?

It's a really scary thought, lying there on your deathbed, and having more regrets to think about than things you're proud of. I wish I had spent more time with my family, I wish I had spent more time doing what I really love to do, I wish I had been more honest, I wish I had been a better friend, I wish I hadn't messed things up, I wish I hadn't walked away, I wish I had taken the chance, I wish, I wish, I wish...but the ache never goes away.

Every time I hear about someone who chased after their dreams, like joined a band, or went on to play some sport professionally, or who gave up their life to become a writer or teacher, or fought for love, I feel really happy for them. Sure, not everyone makes it to the top, most don't even get close, but they can't lie there on their deathbed wishing they had taken the jump.

In today's world, most people care about money, and less about doing something they love to do, or even discovering what they love to do. Most people die not knowing what they love to do, and it's really sad. I guess at a practical level, it's a necessity to give up certain things in your life, playing it safe, it's a part of natural selection. It makes me sad nonetheless, because giving it up is like cutting a part of yourself and discarding it. Is living through life without that part of you really worth it?

Everyone dreams, and over time, dreams change with circumstances. As a student in high school, you aspire to be the guitarist in a famous rock band, as parent you dream of the world being a better place so you can raise your kids in peace, and as a businessman you dream of starting up a business that'll really go places. And throughout life, everyone dreams of true love, whether it may just be chemicals in the brain, or something real, no one wants to die alone. Those who get unconditional true love may be the luckiest of them all.

I say, maybe with material things, you can call it a tragedy to gain your heart's desire, but if it's much more than that, then is it really a tragedy? And so what if it is? I say, give me tragedies, for what is life without them? After all, the fact that you tried is what really counts, right? Not trying is a tragedy worse than that of success or failure.

It's Called Poverty My Friend...

When taking a walk or driving through the city, often I silently and assiduously observe my surroundings. It gives me an odd pleasure, and sometimes I see things that no one else would notice, and it makes me happy that I get the chance to experience the world around me. None of these happenings are very significant in any way, in fact they're generally small things, like a half grown pup barking as if it's the leader of the pack, or a group of small kids dancing around a water pipe, or even just the absurd manner in which a black bird with a ridiculously long tail flies. Often I wish I could always carry a camera around with me, for there are so many moments I would love to capture forever. Yet along with the things that make me happy, I also come across moments that depress me, and one of the most common things that depress me happens to be poverty.

Just the other day, we were walking to class, and as we passed by the small brick houses, if you can call them houses, of the construction workers, I saw a small boy crying, and an old man holding the boy trying to quiet him down, and somehow I could tell the boy was hungry, and it made my heart ache as I heard his wails. Long after we passed the child, I could still hear his screams of agony, and I wondered why people are allowed to live in such conditions. The conditions they live in are inhuman, and it's really sad that not much is being done (or maybe even cannot be done) to help bring up their standard of living. It still haunts me sometimes, the cry of that hungry boy, and the sad look on the old man's face.

It's really easy to ignore the poverty around us while we live in nice houses and go to college and get a chance to make our lives, but what do these kids out on the streets have? Most of them land up being no better off than their parents, and for that matter of fact, probably worse off. Many may be capable of having a better life but never get the chance to pursue it, and it's almost shameful that there's no proper manner in which to inspire them or give them a chance at a better life. I know, it's really easy to blame the government, and I also know that maybe the government cannot do much, but certain rules should be passed to bring up the standard of public schools, and grant scholarships to students below the poverty line. Every child born deserves an equal chance to make their lives.

Sometimes I see workers and old men walking on the streets, and I feel so sorry for them. Then I say to myself that I shouldn't feel sorry for them, because at least they have a job, at least they earn something, even if it's not much. There are so many people in our country who aren't even able to do that much. It was a book, The City of Joy, which made me realize that just because these people are poor doesn't mean they aren't happy, nor does it mean that they deserve pity. Yes it makes me sad when I see so much poverty around me, but I have learned not to pity them, for they are probably stronger-willed than most of us, and strong will deserves no pity.

I do hope that someday I'll be able to make a difference, even if it only affects a few lives, for saving even one life is a really big thing. I really hope that over time this disease called poverty will be lessened, and more people get the chance to have more choices to the kind of life they want.