Ponte en su lugar

What makes us humans is, undoubtedly, living, sharing, listening to other humans. And our humanity is not perfect. Far from it!!! When we label people, we tend to forget that, still, they are people, no matter what they've done. I know that this is particularly difficult when we think of thieves, murderers, rapists and the like... they don't seem human since they don't treat their victims as humans...
Have we ever stopped to think that the reason why these people don't care about others is probably that nobody cares or has cared about them? I'm not just talking about their own families: most of the times, if a child is brought up in neglection, violence and hate, he/she is prone to bring up their own children in a similar way! I'm also thinking about the prejudices we have... There is a song by Bersuit Vergarabat called "La Ribera": if you're familiar with it, it tells us the story of people who live next to Riachuelo (a much polluted river in Argentina), what is like to live there and how they've been isolated from society. There are two verses that are quite touching (at least for me!)
Parece ser que envenenarlos no es violencia (referring to people governing our country, who
neglect them and let them die!)
y es violencia su desesperación (referring to most of the people who live there and who, as a
result of this neglection, have no choice but to steal so as to live!)
We are truly human when we can put ourselves in somebody else's shoes... more technically speaking, when we can emphatise, when we can see things (and understand them!!) from somebody else's perspective... when we can be objective in our judgements...

Aparece Pepito Grillo

Choices, choices and more choices!! And, once more, the fact that if we want to live a good life we're in charge of making choices. No one can do this for us...
Being concientious and responsible seems to be key. This depends both on inborn characteristics as well as on the social context in which we're born. Do you remember when I said in my last post that if we're not treated as humans we won't consider others humans, just things?
Reflect. Always give ourselves time to reflect upon what we do and take responsiblity for the decisions we make. We need to try to get what is best for us. A good life! This doesn't mean that in order to get what we want we should do whatever it takes "The end doesn't justify the means," says Kant. Selfishness can have a positive connotation as well: devoting time to ourselves and striving for what we want, always being responsible for what we decide to do, always being free...
And freedom, at times, implies feeling guilty when we do something that does not match what we really want to obtain...What to do , then?? Take responsibility for what we do incorrectly and correctly, however disgusting it is what we have done!! Face the consequences... that's when we are truly free. What a great responsibility we have as teachers...searching for a good life and inviting others to do the same... defining ourselves with every decision we make... setting the example?

Despierta Baby!

What's a good life? Does it have anything to do with getting our own way at all times? Is it in keeping with owning more and more things?Is it possible to agree on only one idea of what "a good life" entails? Or is this concept going to change from individual to individual? Complex questions for a complex concept...
Material possessions have a saying in this. We own things and yet, at the same time, they own us... if not look around you, and you'll see what materialism does to people. Wars, corruption, opportunism... and a never-ending list of negative concepts. Money is necessary, but greed is no good.You can buy lots of things with money: the house of your dreams, a great car and so and so on. What you cannot buy is love, real love. Friendship. Sympathy. A shoulder to cry on when you're feeling blue. A warm hug. Respect. Treat people like things, and you'll get things in return. What a difference it makes when you treat people for what they are: human beings!
A good life is not about money, I guess... Most probably has nothing to do with what the majority of people believe... A good life is a personal choice. Once more it has to do with reflecting. With understanding what is convenient for us and what is not. It's important to listen to each other: in my last post I stated that it is when we listen to one another that we recognize ourselves and the others as humans. Nevertheless, when it's time to make up our minds, nobody can (or should!) decide for us. We are free. We decide.

Date la Buena Vida

What a title for this chapter... and I was so naive as to believe that this chapter was going to be enlightening! At least, I think that I've found one more answer to my questions!!!
Reflecting seems to be the word. It's not only thinking what we're supposed to do, but also reflecting on the choices we make. It's a question of trying to find out how to live a better life...
This, at the same time, should be reciprocal: we're all human beings and what makes us human is recognising each other, listening to each other, being there for each other...
More food for thought...

Celebrar la vida...
Pensar libremente.
Practicar la paciencia.
Sonreir con frecuencia.
Hacer nuevos amigos.Redescubrir los de antes.
Perdonar a un enemigo.Tener esperanzas. Crecer.
Ser LOCO!! Contar cada día nuestras bendiciones.
Dar. Crecer. Tener esa confianza que permite recibir.
Cumplir una promesa. Ser prudente. Tratar de comprender.
Reservar tiempo para la gente. Reservar tiempo para uno mismo. Esparcir la alegría.
Aceptar un riesgo. Ofrecerse. Abrirse a alguien. Probar algo nuevo. Aminorar la marcha.
Ser blando, a veces. Creer en uno mismo. Confiar en otros.
Mirar un amanecer. Escuchar la lluvia
Rememorar. Llorar cuando sea necesario.
Tener fe.
Cometer errores.
Celebrar la vida...
Jan Michelsen

LOL,
Andre