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Sweet and Sour Life

Some of the things in life come sugarcoated and we love them. Close your eyes and try to remember the sweetest of things that ever happened to you, you will feel you are smiling. Memories are that special, they can make us smile even in some of the saddest hours of life.

Now think of a relationship with a friend that went sour or a group discussion that turned so sour that you swore that you would never again express an opinion. The smile on your face will disappear as you think of something like that. Memories are that powerful, they can foil your effort to be happy.

So, let's make an effort to put behind the hours of melancholy, for they seldom help us move forward. In order to keep our spirits soaring, let's make an effort to read some passages from life's diary, those specific passages on life's beautiful moments.

Turn the pages of the diary at the end of a busy day, before going to sleep or while sipping a cup of tea on a quiet afternoon. I know watching a sunset has become a luxury in our metropolis. But buildings still have roofs; take your time to watch a sunset from your rooftop. The sorrows of life will melt as the last rays of the sun dissolve in the horizon.

In our routine lives, deaths come and go. I remember the death of a favourite uncle and how much I cried at the news. But like many other family members, I forgot the agony of losing him in three months. I cannot remember the last time I deeply thought about him and the good times I spent with him. I woke up one morning two months ago - a dream about my uncle woke me up. I woke and sat up on my bed - a strange feeling of sadness and guilt overwhelmed me.

It is so easy to forget someone who I once met almost every day. Is it my busy life that made me not remember him in a long time? I don't know the answer. But wouldn't it be nice to remember once in a while the loved ones we lost? The recalling process can be teary but therein one may find some solace.

Close your eyes to remember the face of an aunt, uncle, grandparent, parent or sibling, who passed away. It might be difficult the first few minutes, but the face eventually will appear in the mirror of your mind.

Life is a strange path that leads us to events we never wanted to come across. But then again, it is the unexpectedness of life's events that makes it so exhilarating and interesting. Let's tread the path with courage and love. As you tread the path, remember those you loved and lost. Don't think too much about those who stabbed your heart and left it bleeding, for perhaps they don't deserve to be remembered.

By Wara Karim
The Daily Star Link

Comments

Excellent !! In some sense it is a way of nourishing a healthy mind by being selective and focusing on positive / happy memory triggers / stimulus. I do not remember if I said this before, if so let me repeat, your prose as the taste of poetry. Although I wrote the first sentence from boring applied psychology (if there is anything like that) perspective.

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