Savoring
by No matter how bad their situation at the moment, optimists can always find things to enjoy – the smell of a wood-burning fireplace in the night air, the delight in a child’s face while petting a kitten, the taste of a good cup of coffee.
The Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh lived through the long wars in Vietnam, helped victims of war, fed hungry children, and tried to ensure the safety of boat people on the turbulent Gulf of Siam. He is intimately acquainted with calamity, so he does not advocate trying to shut out pain, especially the pain of others: “Do not avoid contact with suffering or close your eyes before suffering . . . . Find ways to be with those who are suffering by all means, including personal contact and visits, images, sound. By such means, awaken yourself and others to the reality of suffering in the world.”
Image via Wikipedia
Image via Wikipedia
But then he adds an important component to such pain: Life is filled with suffering, but it is also filled with many wonders, like the blue sky, the sunshine, and the eyes of a baby. To suffer is not enough. We must also be in touch with the wonders of life. They are within us and all around us everywhere, any time . . . . Do we need to make a special effort to enjoy the beauty of the blue sky? Do we have to practice to be able to enjoy it? No, we just enjoy it . . . . Wherever we are, any time, we have the capacity to enjoy the sunshine, the presence of each other, even the sensation of our breathing. We don’t need to go to China to enjoy the blue sky. We don’t have to travel into the future to enjoy our breathing. We can be in touch with these things right now. It would be a pity if we are only aware of suffering.
Image via Wikipedia
Thomas Merton wrote that Asian guides like Hanh have more carefully attended the subtle development of human spiritual consciousness than normally have in the West.
A friend of mine is a fine photographer and takes more than a thousand pictures a year. I once asked him, “Why do you always carry your camera?” Are you trying to catch some freak accident and sell the negative to a magazine for a big price?”
“Oh, no,” he answered. “I take pictures to help me see better. If I’m not careful, I can get lazy and fail to notice the new petals on our peach tree, or the colors in a lizard lounging on my patio. The camera helps keep my powers of observation sharp.”
Image by Matito via Flickr
Optimism is not saying that everything is getting better and better every day in every way. Nor is it saying that our worst days are behind us. We don’t know either of those things. What we do know is that this world, for all its faults, is a big world filled with good things to be savored and enjoyed.
Image via Wikipedia
“As long as one can admire and love,” said Pablo Casals, “then one is young forever.”
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Post CommentMythili Kannan
On October 12, 2009 at 10:45 am
Nice optimistic views
Sourav
On October 12, 2009 at 10:45 am
Very nicely written article!
cardy
On October 12, 2009 at 11:02 am
A well written article like you’re thoughts. Thanks for the share.
ceegirl
On October 12, 2009 at 11:26 am
Great article.
Christine Ramsay
On October 12, 2009 at 11:48 am
It is far less stressful to be an optimist. There is so much to wonder at in the world. What is the point in dwelling on problems? A well written piece.
Christine
CHAN LEE PENG
On October 12, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Nicely done piece. Keep it up!
papaleng
On October 12, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Well done my friend, Though I’m one of those who are realistic.
Katien
On October 12, 2009 at 1:01 pm
Nice article. I am a realist, but have always appreciated the beauty in life that I know others don’t notice. Noticing the wonders of nature can keep thing in perspective.
Petalm
On October 12, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Really true.
Jenny Heart
On October 12, 2009 at 3:09 pm
I say always make your cup half full not empty.
LOVELYHONEY
On October 12, 2009 at 6:05 pm
good i thought u were going to write about favouring
i am still awaiting
Avaxier
On October 12, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Nice article! It’s very true that optimism is an important thing in life.
Aleena
On October 12, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Great piece
Sometimes I find it hard to be an optimist because its so easy to get lost in all that is bad in our lives. But really, when you think about it, theres always good elements and bad elements, and its up to choose which one you put the most emphasis on in your life.
Shirley Shuler
On October 12, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Great post, it’s nice to see the world through the eyes of an optimist, thanks for sharing!
monica55
On October 13, 2009 at 12:49 am
I totally agree with all the points you make. I especially like this one: this is a big world filled with good things to be savored and enjoyed. An excellent piece.
Monica.
deep blue
On October 13, 2009 at 1:00 am
Very well written. If we could only see whatever unfoldment opens up before our naked eyes…I was reminded of a string of scandals caught in the cellphone back there at home, it’s a negative way of “savoring”…is it not?
Shamanz
On October 13, 2009 at 3:30 am
love the differing view points presented in this piece.
lillyrose
On October 13, 2009 at 11:14 am
lovely article, very well presented. I enjoyed the read and it gave me lots to ponder upon. We do spend to mush time hanging on to the bad things that happen in our world. We should rejoice the good things more, I love the smell of the wood burner, I love to watch my children and dogs playing in the snow. Thank you for reminding me to remember all these great things. x