The Path

Today is not like yesterday.  One wouldn’t expect it to be.  Time marches on.  But yesterday was a simpler time.  Not that the goals have changed, we still want an education, job, family, success, a desire for something better.  Today is more cluttered though.  In our daily lives we deal with cell phones, tablets, desktops, laptops, cd players, dvd players, ipods, MP3s, flat screens, 3D, texting, oh my goodness!

 Along my path, and in my memories, I have a bench.  In my day this bench would have a couple of total strangers sitting on it, discussing the day’s events, feeding the squirrels or pigeons, maybe sharing a sandwich.  Today it is empty.  I can’t remember when anyone other than a homeless person has made use of a bench the old way.  Now two people would be found at opposite ends, facing opposite directions, focused on their laptops while the squirrels are left wondering where the sandwich is.

I feel sorry for folks today that don’t take the time to buy a sandwich for lunch and go to the park, to sit on the bench and meet someone new.  A quiet moment when two completely different people, strangers, invade each other’s space and learn something new or have a laugh over an anecdote.  The feeling they get when, years later, their lunchtime companion doesn’t show.  Days after that when a young woman sits next to them on the bench to explain how much their short lunches meant to the passed loved one, and how the friendship, and looking forward to the bench, kept the secret illness at bay, then they would realize how valuable one small act of interpersonal communication can be.

As we travel our path try not to forget to turn off all the clutter in your life, the importance of all these electronics is highly overplayed.  Take some time to go outside and get away from it, bring a sandwich, find a bench, and make a new friend.  The older the new friend the more important your small cordial act will be.  Most feel forgotten is the clutter of young lives.  You will be amazed at how good you will feel afterwards.

Don’t forget to feed some crust to the squirrels and pigeons!