The endless twists and turns of Internet research can land you in the most precarious of places. Sometimes enlightening. Often thought provoking.
Probably like yours, my news feeds have recently been filled with sorrow and tragic stories of violence, abuse and unimaginable harm bestowed on innocent lives.
The horrific death of Kiesha Abrahams and the most recent sad story of a boy being sexually exploited by his own adopted parents solidifies that this is indeed a cruel, heartless and dangerous world we live in.
Taking the tram from Chinatown on Sunday, there was an elderly couple in front of us who were struggling to climb on board. No family around them, they slowly shuffled with their walking sticks, unable to help each other, just trying to focus on themselves. It was heartbreaking.
Then, as they disembarked at Central station, I noticed that a younger Chinese couple helped them. At first, I thought they may have been relatives but instead simply parted ways.
As brief as it was, in the fleeting frailty of the moment, I saw it.
Love and compassion: Two invaluable elements of life that gives it purpose.
I guess right then, my faith in people restored itself a little.
There was an article I stumbled on about an online fashion magazine, The Vibe that conducted a photo shoot depicting famous female authors who had committed suicide.
A model emulating Virginia Woolf in a river holding a huge rock; another kneeling in front of an oven, representing Sylvia Plath; the images were beyond insensitive to the deeper issues of mental illness.
After an instant backlash from the public, The Vibe took down the photos and made a public apology.
Yet, in the hype of it all, I decided I wanted to watch The Hours. For no other reason than the article left me curious about Virginia Woolf and her tormented life.
Luckily, the DVD is on a weekly rental, because I haven’t been able to stop watching it since Saturday night. Where was I when it won all those Academy Awards?
While there is much heartache, anguish and pain in the movie, I’m in awe of the female characters and their inner strength.
Again, human nature showed its delicate beauty.
Is it a case of trying to see the glass half full?
Is it about trying to stay optimistic?
I don’t know.
I don’t want the tragedies we’ve seen and read about these past weeks to be left unnoticed or without our deep sympathies. But I don’t think our own reactions of anger or hostility are productive either.
In all its deception and deceit in this mixed up world, we still have it in our power to create something that’s not only secure and safe for our families, particularly our children, but also for those who happen to cross our paths.
Humans are too complex to be superseded by hate, don’t you think?
Joining Essentially Jess for IBOT
kirri says
The world is always a beautiful place, filled with love and ‘delicate beauty’ – as long as we choose to see it that way. I couldn’t have said it better myself. Bravo Gracie x
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Lisa @ Raising Explorers says
Such a lovely image of the young couple helping the old couple. You’re right, there is a lot wrong with the world, but also a lot right with it. Happy Tuesday!
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Kaz @ Melting Moments says
There is good in the world. It’s a shame we have to look so hard to find it.
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Ai Sakura says
I wanted to watch The Hours when it came out, but didn’t and kinda forgot about it. Thanks for thr reminder to get it on my movie list again.
It’ true, rather then letting hate take over, why not do something productive to make the world a better place so that these things don’t happen again? A little more positive thinking in everyone would certainly go a long way, and hate only begets hate.
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Kylez @ A Study in Contradictions says
I totally agree Grace, we can’t let ourselves be consumed by the hate, we just can’t. My heart broke when I was reading about that poor abused boy, I just simply can not understand how someone could be so evil as to do that to an innocent child. And while I can understand the anger and frustration that can be experienced from time to time when raising a child, I can’t understand how someone can get to the point of doing the things that woman did to her child, it’s unthinkable.
I do think its human nature though to look for the good in the world when we are faced with such horror because when you look around there is much good left, even if it doesn’t seem like it sometimes. Sometimes it’s just a matter of flicking a switch inside our own brains to let the good shine through.
#teamIBOT was here!
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Rhianna says
I tend to shut myself off from those really terrible cases, I just can’t bear them, it is too easy to get caught up in the atrocity of it all. I am so glad you were able to see that moment where help was given. It is moments like that, that need to shared, praised and encouraged because that is where the hope of the world lies.
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Veronica @ Mixed Gems says
A post with a lot to chew over first thing in the morning, Grace! I choose to be realistically hopeful. Is that optimism? So be it. It’s a huge change for someone who has mostly been a self-proclaimed “glass half empty person”. I can’t un-see the negative in the world, and around me in my life even right now, but I can decide to let it chew me up and wallow in misery, or choose to be hopeful. I am choosing the latter. I don’t think we can help others that are in a darker place without first seeing the light ourselves. It is only then we can lead them to hope, if they want to come.
“People deal too much with the negative, with what is wrong. Why not try and see positive things, to just touch those things and make them bloom?” – Nhat Hanh
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Lisa - lybliss says
Lovely post. I think we are losing the art of simply being kind, doing good things. I remember going to the shops and people offering to carrying my Gran’s paper shopping bags. Now, no-one seems to notice when someone is struggling.
And at the same time, we are constantly being taught to be wary of kind acts. A teenager offering to carry Gran’s bag now would probably be suspected of planning to take her purse.
It starts with little things, teaching our children to give up their seats or to hold a door open, setting an example. I hope I am teaching my kids this. I hope !
Josefa @always Josefa says
Can we even imagine a world without hate? I love the image of the little old couple being helped. It is small moments like these in my day that restore hope not just in humanity, but in myself. That I need to always focus on the good, keep moving forward with the good xx
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Tahlia @ the parenting files says
A little gratitude, love and kindness…that is what I want to teach my children and hope they carry that through their life. Because there is not enough. What we focus on, what we don’t and how we allow certain things to impact us… glass half full. We can never get rid of the hate, we can only make a difference for ourselves and hope that is enough too xx
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JodiGibson (@JFGibsonWriter) says
Sometimes the bad in the world really consumes me and saddens me beyond belief. I have to take solace in the fact I am in control of my little world and my little people and keep teaching them right from wrong, kindness, respect, strength and goodness. xx
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Lisa @ Circle of Toast says
There is beauty and good out there, and sometimes you only get the briefest glimpse of it, but if we just focus on those brief glimpses, instead of the negative, then we’ll all be happier for it.
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Mumabulous says
Lovely post Grace. I’m actually an optimist about humanity. I believe that there is more kindness and compassion and sheer brilliance than we realize. Then again – young couple helps frail elderly couple get off the bus hardly makes for a catchy headline.
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Rachel @ The Kids Are All Right says
I love this sentiment Grace, that we have the power – and responsibility – to make life safe for people who cross our paths. Sometimes bad things happen to people who help others, but it would be a terrible outcome if everyone gave up caring for others.
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EssentiallyJess says
I’ve been making a conscious effort to look at the pain just lately. We can’t change it if we don’t even notice it, and I refuse to be a person who just lives their comfortable meaningless life.
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carmen says
I’ve lived with that hope for most of my life. For me it’s about being able to change that impression by others… for whatever reason.
To make a difference.
xxx
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natalia familia says
It’s a horrible world out there and I’d love to shut it all out, but I’m with Jess, we have to not succumb to ignorance and be open to know what the world is really about so that we can appreciate how lucky we are. Thanks for this post Grace, and that photo of your boys, SO CUTE! xx
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Rina says
Sometimes I am still surprised by how much hatred a person can carry with him all his life. Life is too short to spend it on hating each other and the world is too beautiful to take on these hatred that has been going on for ages (religious, politic views, etc). I think any one of us can actually contribute to make a better world. We need to believe in it. Thanks for the lovely post Grace.
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Kirsty @ My Home Truths says
I love this post Grace. I’m a natural optimist and I can’t quite understand how people can lose hope so completely that they can’t go on or how people can commit atrocities against anyone, particularly children. I keep thinking of the words of Burt Bacharach “What the world needs now, is love, sweet love”. So true and so necessary – thanks for the wise words Grace.
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Me says
Now you have piqued my interest in Virginia Woolf and The Hours – think I am going to have to get it from the DVD shop and watch it.
It is great to see people helping each other – I love random acts of kindess like that.
Have the best day !
Me
Emily @ Have a laugh on me says
Such great insight, I think if we think too much about people and how they could do certain things then life would be quite unbearable. If only more of the good stuff was publicised 🙁 xx
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Nami says
Definitely – hate must be the primary cause for cancer (in my ignorant opinion). But irritated is okay, right?
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