Sittin' on the Tumblr bus . . .

waiting for it to take me somewhere.  Scrolling along the posts, stopping to look at some, leaving others for another time.  It seems the pervasive, persistent theme is pain — emotional, spiritual pain.  We have been told, or perhaps some of us have just heard, that we are to treat others the way we wish to be treated.  The Golden Rule.  We have been told, or perhaps some of us have just heard, that we should be kind, that everyone is fighting a battle — Ian Maclaren or Plato, it’s your choice.  People, be good to yourself, first and foremost, and the rest of the world will fall into place.  Stop with the comparisons to others.  Stop with the hate.  Stop with the insecurities.  Do not allow the pain, anger, judgement, hatred, and insecurities of others to color your world.  Just stop it!  It is not easy — I know this for a fact.  This is not some Pollyanna, simplistic, impossible world view for suffering and pain are real and true.  I have existed on this planet for 54 years already and currently hurtling toward Year Marker 55.  We all make mistakes.  We all have our bad moments.  We all have things in our lives of which we are not proud — of saying, of doing.  Life may be suffering (Buddha), but “life is not a suffering Olympics” (Rabbi Harold Kushner).  Stand tall.  Love yourself.