Observe

Perhaps this is the right time to be still and observe changes in life.

Observation is the best learning tool that everyone has. Somehow, along the way of growing up, we have decided that we have learnt enough and stopped this tool from functioning. It may be easier said than done. Keeping quiet for a period of time takes a lot of patience. Many no longer have the skills. Most of us always have the urge to interfere with events happening around us.

Sometimes, it may be the best solution to not interfere with the way of life but we are humans after all. We do have a heart and we cannot stand seeing unjust incidents. We have to help those in need. While this shows humanity working at its best, we may be creating individuals that rely on others for survival. The best that we should be doing instead is to offer help to those who are willing to make efforts for change.

Opportunities are everywhere. It is up to the individual to take action upon it. Some people just want to have a job that pays but are never willing to learn. They are hoping for others to finish the tasks for them. Every time someone try to teach them new things, they will pretend to learn and a few days later say that they are not aware of it or they do not know how to do it. Perhaps it is better to leave them alone with their tasks, never to help them complete any of it. While this may sound unhelpful, it is the best way to help the person.

Some people are rich, some are poor, mostly are on average. However, there will always be beggars in all corners of the world. Some are genuine because of disabilities while others may be just pretending to be. Most humans feel for other humans that look pitiful. Perhaps it is better to talk to them and offer them a job instead of just giving them dollars upon dollars, day by day. The last thing we want to do is to encourage people to become lazy. People may not believe so but there are beggar syndicates out there that uses children to beg for them. This is child labour to the max.

Many people have the heart for animals. Some are to the extreme. While we think that by providing them shelter and food, we are doing our best to protecting them. This may be true in a sense as life in the streets is harsh and the natural forests are depleting due to deforestation. The main thing is not to merely rescue the animals but to educate the people. As long as economy is concerned, natural habitats will deplete to the brink point of no return. By then, we would have diminished so many species to extinction.

While efforts to save other life on this planet lay in the hands of environmentalist and animal lovers, everyone else should learn to live better. We can all do our part to live a minimalist lifestyle. Most often, we purchase things that is in trend that we do not need, just to stay in-trend. What is the point?

We are not observing enough. Some say life is too busy to just sit still, even for a minute. But why not? If we can spend two hours watching a movie in the cinemas, why not just spend a few minutes to ponder upon what’s most important in life? If we can spend three hours enjoying fine dining in a posh restaurant, why not spend a few minutes to clear out clutter in life?

Clutter happens in many ways. It can be clutter in the house. Humans love to hog things that is beautiful or is seemingly important. If we take a step back and observe, we will realize that we only use a few items in the house. Most are white elephants left in the storage for years on end, collecting dust. Are these items really needed? Think before the next purchase.

The worst thing that can happen is clutter in the mind and the only way to clear that out is through observation. We live in the era of information technology; information is abundant. We only need to keep what is really useful. There is no point collecting all sorts of information that is of no relevance. We need to be still to find out.

Observe to be clear. Observe for wisdom.

 

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.

Marilyn vos Savant, American magazine columnist, author, lecturer, and playwright, 1946-present