One act of kindness

My purpose is not to gripe, but for me to get to the point, I have do expound a little bit on a few topics that are going to sound like I'm griping (which I'm not). Please, read on.

For the second time in a month, my car broke down. First one, then yesterday its replacement. I subsequently have to ride the bus to work, which is itself no picnic. I don't think it would be professional of me to voice my opinions on that, so the less said the better. In any case, it's been a difficult day.

In any case, on the way home I have to take two buses, so I need a transfer from the first bus. I didn't have correct change, so I was unable to purchase the transfer. I called my girlfriend to ask her to pick me up from the second stop, but because of some crazy parking conditions near our place, she couldn't come. It sort of felt as though nothing would go right for me.

As I was getting off the bus, the driver beckoned to me. He slipped a transfer into my hand and said "it's good until 7:30." I gave the man my heartfelt thanks and smiled. That's when I realized that it was the first time I've smiled today.

I won't belabor the point any more, I just want to encourage anyone reading this to practice random acts of kindness. Yes, I know I sound like Oprah. Even so, the power of your own humanity is much greater than you may think. You probably already know all the BS people spout about this topic, saying it makes the place a better world and other nonsense. That's immaterial. The point is that it'll make you feel good, and it's the fucking right thing to do. We only get a limited number of opportunities in life to prove to ourselves that we are indeed human, not ants navigating around each other on our narrow little paths. Don't waste the opportunities, it could make a big difference to someone. You. Others. Does it matter to whom?

Say "Oh."

Listening to the Vampire Weekend song A-Punk is usually a pretty fun experience for me, but who knew it would contain such a wonderful nugget of wisdom? I'm referring to this line from the chorus:

Look outside at the raincoats coming, say "oh."

I should mention that I have no idea what the song is about (stealing some asshole's ring?), and in the interest of full disclosure, this blog post is not really about the song. It's about the idea Vampire Weekend seems to be communicating in that line.

I've had an atypically hard day today. I won't get into it, because that wouldn't be saying "oh." All the same, I have very little patience at the moment, particularly for artificial padding to make a simple thought into an overwrought writerly mess, so I'll get to the point: there's a common way of thinking that suggests people should face the adversity in their lives by smiling at it, welcoming it, and finding the positive side of it. I can't say I don't admire the can-do spirit that aims to make lemonade out of sour sour lemons, but I think it goes too far when it tries to turn shit into ice cream. Optimism is one thing, but denial is quite another. It's amazing that clarification is required, but indeed, bad things are bad, no two ways about it. Still, grousing through life is no way to live, so what's a man to do? Say "oh," that's what.

Don't get me wrong: I'm not suggesting that the answer to life's scrapes and bruises is an extra-thick layer of callous. What I am suggesting is a bit of perspective and a bit of acceptance. Yes, people are wearing raincoats, which means it's going to rain. Shall we match the rain with our own facial precipitation? Shall we sing in the rain like a fucking maniac, laughing our way right into pneumonia? Nothing so dramatic. Just go outside as you have in more pleasant weather. Walk the same route you always walk, and turn your face up to the sky as you tend to do. When the first droplet of rain hits you in the cheek or left eyelid, you will not need to react: you knew it was coming. What's more, you know there will be many more to follow. You can feel secure in the knowledge that you spared yourself the double indignity of being wet and angry, and that when it rains again, you may not even feel it. Of course, it's still acceptable to get mad when it rains shit instead of water, but that hardly ever happens.