Often as I look around me, it amazes me how amazing human beings can be. When looking at the small actions of friends and family, though they often make small mistakes, are able to overcome them and be good people in general. They lift up those in need, and be an example, a sort of light to others.
However, it seems as though as soon as you take a human out of the ballpark of small and simple decisions that usually only directly affect a couple of people, this genuine goodness seems to crumble. Make a human feel very important or give him a lot of power and money, and they seem to forget almost instantly the small values that made them the good people they were back when they were young children.
Which group am I going to be referring to specifically? Well, from the title, you've probably guessed that it's going to be politicians as well as the die-hard people who support them. Now, before you roll your eyes and stop reading because it looks like I'm going to go on another "political rant," I want to assure you it won't be that way.
It's sad, though. Very sad to see people like senators and presidents and a whole slew of candidates who, if they had been but born in an ordinary house and only done ordinary things, would have not turned out the way they are. They would not be putting each other down and dragging the country with them. They would not be being controlled by money and corporate interests. It is very sad to see beautiful human beings become so dark and cruel much because of the evil things that humans have created and done over thousands of years of history. I feel horribly bad for them. But, looking at their lives does teach us a valuable lesson: The power of the insignificant.
A pattern that has been noted and preached by almost every philosopher that has ever lived is still very much strong and just as odd today as it has always been. The pattern is this: the humans that have been given or has worked for everything to fulfill their desires and their basic human yearnings have turned out as not very good people. However, if a human is born in poor or simply ordinary circumstances that include times of suffering and trial and have been denied some of their most basic instincts and desires, they become better, kinder people and are much happier with their lives. Keep in mind that not every human follows this pattern, but that this pattern is much more of a tendency.
Why does this pattern exist? Because of the power of the seemingly insignificant. The small actions and problems that exist in the lives of the common man do not bind us or keep us from a higher level of understanding, and having huge problems and actions that affect millions does not free us, but instead is a sort of prison. Doing and focusing on the small things in life gives us an appreciation for life in general, and leads us to greater happiness.
So, instead of focusing our lives on that college degree, that dream career, or that spot in the limelight, let us simply look towards the small and seemingly meaningless. If we can make the small things in life important to us, then no hardship can come that cannot be overcome, and no sadness can completely overtake us because we cling and love the small, happy things. In fact, if the seemingly insignificant can make our lives the kind of lives that are filled with joy, then perhaps they are more important and significant than anything else, even being president...
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