Today’s Thinking Out Loud reflection is on Boris Pasternack’s work, Dr. Zhivago.
“And remember: you must never, under any circumstances, despair. To hope and to act, these are our duties in misfortune.”
Note: We all face misfortune at times. It comes with living. How we respond to it sets a stamp on our character. Viktor Frankl in Man’s Search for Meaning said we always have the freedom to choose the attitude we take toward our circumstances. Boris Pasternack encourages us to never despair or allowing ourselves to fall into the black pit. Instead, hope is the antidote to despair. Yes, tomorrow will better than today. Believe good things are coming your way. If you’re awake, you’ll catch them.
I opened my eyes
And looked up at the rain,
And it dripped in my head
And flowed into my brain,
And all that I hear as I lie in my bed
Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.
I step very softly,
I walk very slow,
I can’t do a handstand–
I might overflow,
So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said–
I’m just not the same since there’s rain in my head.
Once in a golden hour
I cast to earth a seed.
Up there came a flower,
The people said, a weed.
To and fro they went
Thro’ my garden bower,
And muttering discontent
Cursed me and my flower.
Then it grew so tall
It wore a crown of light,
But thieves from o’er the wall
Stole the seed by night.
Sow’d it far and wide
By every town and tower,
Till all the people cried,
“Splendid is the flower!”
Read my little fable:
He that runs may read.
Most can raise the flowers now,
For all have got the seed.
And some are pretty enough,
And some are poor indeed;
And now again the people
Call it but a weed.
Knocked down? Rise up, shake it off and get moving again. It’s the only to get past the hit. We all take them. When we start moving the pain ebbs and rainbows appear.
NOTE: The one thing that we are capable of doing that no one can take away from us is the attitude we choose to take to our day. Why not begin each day by announcing to the world, “I’m going to have a great day.” Don’t waste a moment on a pity party. Don’t waste a moment feeling sorry for yourself. It’s going to be a great day, grab hold of it and don’t let go.
