Counterpoint: "Every life is a pile of good things and bad things. The good things don’t always soften the bad things, but vice versa, the bad things don’t always spoil the good things and make them unimportant." (Doctor Who s05e10 Vincent and the Doctor)
What if "luck" is just another word for "perspective". I mean outside of casinos. Circumstances in life are like fruit. Some are bigger deals than others. A watermelon is bigger than a grape. Some people like some fruits and not others. I can't stand bananas. Sometimes it takes the right framework to like a thing. I like banana chocolate chip muffins.
What if we're looking at all of the spots and bruises on the fruits and not stopping to remember that they do also taste good. Just eat around the gross part? Focus on the positive?
I've found that our culture has become fairly pessimistic and self deprecating. It's no wonder, then, that there's been an increase in mental illness. At least depression. If we're always expecting the worst and putting ourselves down, it's not going to end well for our self-esteem.
Some people don't have this problem. I envy them. Of course, then I need to remind myself that they likely have other problems, like not being able to relate to people. (/sarcasm.) I mean, I was taught to not be prideful, and always be humble. It took me a very long time to understand the difference between humility and humiliation, and humility as a virtue.
Humiliate (v.): to make (someone) feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and pride.
Humility (n.): the quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance.
(Oxford Dictionary)
Humility (virtue): not denying your strengths but accepting your weaknesses. Humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less. Humility is thinking more of others. (Rick Warren)
Humiliation is involuntary. It's something other people do to you. Humility is something you bring on yourself. Whether or not it's "virtuous" depends on your motivation.
It's become very easy to self-victimize, to assume that the world is out to get us. That's still thinking me-centric. If you really want to be humble, don't talk down about yourself, just don't talk about yourself.
But that's not exactly easy. We are naturally self-centred. I am only aware of my own experiences unless I make an effort to try to make myself aware of others', and even then, it's only through the lens of my experiences that I can understand theirs.
Sorry, that was hard to follow. At least, I had trouble following it. Let me try again.
Jane killed someone (Hilda) and went to jail. Her child, Max, grew up without a mother. So did Hilda's child, Rosie. Rosie grows up, knowing none of the story except Jane killed Hilda. Rosie wants revenge. Rosie kills Jane. That's fair, right? An eye for an eye? But Max had nothing to do with either murder, yet suffered for both. Also, why did Jane kill Hilda? Was it a complete accident, carelessness, or premeditated? Was it revenge? Would Rosie just be continuing the cycle.
What's right for one person isn't always right for everyone. Sometimes there isn't an option that's right for everyone. With everyone having their own set of perspectives and morals, it's impossible for life to balance out equally for everyone. The best we can do is try to keep other peoples' perspectives and morals in mind and try not to harm them.
Wow, I've really meandered all over the place on this post.
Okay, so basically, to sum it all up:
- Luck is a matter of perspective.
- Humiliation is bad.
- Humility can be a good thing, as long as you're still nice to yourself. Likewise, pride can be okay, as long as you're still nice to other people.
- Life isn't fair. It's up to us to be nice to each other.
Honest, that's what I think I said above. Apologies that it came out so mangled. Congratulations on getting through it!
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