Your morning thought for the day:
Love looks not with the eyes,
but with the mind,
And therefore is winged
Cupid painted blind.
-- William Shakespeare
Some of you might think that today's story is a bit of a downer.
However, with Valentine's Day coming up soon, we have to remember
that there are countless people who haven't been shot by Cupid yet.
For reasons unknown, true love has yet to be found.
Michael's story reminds that regardless of where we are in life,
we are far from alone. It puts things perspective -- we all have
reasons to regret, reasons to celebrate, and reasons to hope.
______________________________________________
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
by Michael T. Smith
It was Valentine's Day. I was in a new job.
My boss walked up to me and handed me a red, heart-shaped
balloon, "Happy Valentine's Day, Mike!"
My cubicle is one of hundreds in an acre of cubes. If I go to
the bathroom, the lunchroom, or am just coming in to start my day,
I'm lost. Every cubicle looks the same.
I tied the balloon to the wall of my cubicle, "There!" I thought
to myself. "Now I'll be able to find my cube."
An hour later, I stood up and looked around. Every cubicle had
a red, heart-shaped balloon tied to it.
For a short time I thought I was different, but I was wrong. I
was not the only balloon. Memories from the past came flashing back.
"Stop shaking the floor!" Dad yelled. We were three boys in a
four room house. I was the youngest of the family. Our house was so
small, it was impossible not to bother our father. We tried to walk
softly, but the floor shook and upset him.
I was 18 when we got an indoor bathroom. Before that, we used
an outhouse. We were poor and knew it. My friends had indoor
bathrooms, but we went outside to use ours. We trudged through the
snow to do our business, even when it was -25 degrees or lower.
Years later, I had my own home and family. Our house sat on the
side of a hill, with a great view of the cove below us. The ocean
currents filled the cove with fresh water and provided for the osprey
and bald eagles who fed there. They were wonderful to watch.
The company I worked for at that time made major changes. After
fifteen years of service, I was let go. I had to move. It was
another hard time in my life. I was separated from my wife and kids.
It was a year before we were back together.
We weren't separated because we wanted to be, it was the
circumstances of my work. Later, we moved again and then again.
Life wouldn't allow us to stay in one place.
Years later, my wife passed away due to illness. I always
seemed to be in a maze, alone, struggling to find my way.
In every case, I thought I was the only one, but I was wrong.
There were other kids who used an outhouse, other people who
moved, and other spouses who lost loved ones.
We feel like we are facing unique problems, but in reality,
we're not. No matter what we face or how lonely we feel, there are
always others suffering the same.
I thought I was the only balloon. I was wrong.
-- Michael T. Smith <mtsmith at cableone.net>
______________________________________________
Michael lives in New Jersey with his wife and their children. You
can sign up for his email newsletter here:
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/d.jsp?m=1101828445578&p=oi
______________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment