The Things That Move Us

I know everyone has things that moves them to tears, anger, joy, envy, exhilaration and pride. Sometimes it occurs with age but usually with experience. It shapes us to feel things differently than we did before. Be it shame as a child being scolded for something we did, the kiss of our first love, the anger of being called a name in the school yard or the simple joy of seeing a pretty flower. Whatever it may be this is what connects us to others, the experiences and feelings we associate with these life passing. Not always good, some traumatic but these are the things that allow us to empathize with others. Only sociopaths and deviants are unable to feel for others, unable to see beyond their own desires and needs.

But some times in life we all fail to see others needs before our own and we fulfill our own desires. In some cases these people are seen as smart, successful, men. But others are selfish, cold, bitches, women. This is the standard in our society, in many societies. Even when a woman succeeds to the top she is seen differently, called names, treated differently than a man, then she in turns becomes extra hard, cold and even ruthless. There is a double standard in this world, as much as we may study it, show proof of it, it will never really cease to stop. As much as we educate ourselves about such treatment, we all play a role in it. Only a very few actually live their lives by what they preach.

It is the easy way, after all if you are a woman speaking out against such treatment you will be isolated, torn down and tossed aside. It's a daunting task, like David and Goliath and at times the little guy does win but for every win there are thousands of more injustices that occur. But this doesn't stop the hopeful, the young, the ones who haven't turned bitter and disgusted. Rarely a few older souls stay bright, hopeful and untainted by the foul tastes life bring on.

They are the ones that are moved by the wonder and beauty of the morning sun, the joy and delight in a child's laugh, the devotion and faith in love. They give us hope to remember before the weight on our shoulders brought us down, the pain that defeated us, the shame we felt, the doubt we felt, the loss of hope. Sometimes its hard to see the sun through the thick haze of doubt, sometimes we all need a reminder of the things that moved us.