Healing, Learning, Growing, Smiling...

It’s no secret to anyone who has read my posts that I’ve been down in the dumps. I’ve been that way for me for a very long time, but I try to shield my family from it – especially my son. I think my dad is on to me, but that’s a whole other story.

The feeling of treading water for months, years on end brings about a sort of numbness to my life that is indescribable. Even the word numb doesn’t do it justice.

Me and the rest of the world, right? Are we all miserable? Can we turn our backs on the misery as a group and siphon out the joy we all possess within to sprinkle onto each other in our weak moments? That’s what I feel happened on my previous post.

Photo source: pixabay.com

Here on Steemit, I don’t have to pretend about anything. After knowing that it’s okay to express myself and expose my weaknesses in an environment that won’t belittle me, I find that the friends I’m looking for just show up… It was so refreshing that in my last post, you showed up in droves with real comments containing real insights. To put it mildly, all of you moved me with your comments. It wasn’t the typical “nice post, follow me and upvote my post” comments – and certainly not the guy that keeps spewing his hateful racist comments all over many posts I’ve read recently. I truly believe that good prevails.

Anyway, it’s liberating and healing to be here; it’s an absolute pleasure. This healing miracle is slowly starting to carry over into my cynical, offline self. I find that it’s easier for me to smile lately; I’m happier. I thought I’d lost faith in humanity, especially when I hang out around my neighborhood in Los Angeles, but I’ve been in a different frame of mind lately and I’m starting to witness some good.

What do I mean starting to witness some good?

Everything in Los Angeles seems to happen while driving because everyone is always stuck in traffic. Just the other day, while waiting at a stoplight, I looked to my right where I frequently see the same homeless woman sitting on the sidewalk with all her bags, bundled up in a winter coat regardless of the outside temperature. It appears to me that she is waiting to die. I mean, technically we all are, but in her case, literally.

Photo source: pixabay.com

At the exact moment, a teenager on a bicycle stopped in front of her, pulled a box of food out of his bag, and handed it to her. The smile on her face was more than a smile. She was speechless and clearly moved by his kindness; I think I saw tears in her eyes. It takes a village to take care of each other and that kid reminded me of that fact.

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At another stoplight on a different day last week, a little old Japanese lady (probably in her 70s) was skateboarding across the crosswalk while holding an umbrella to block the sun. Yes, she was skateboarding… You read that correctly. It was the most adorable thing I’ve seen in a long time. Not to mention that she is so much more coordinated than I could ever dream to be...!

Photo source: pixabay.com

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You see, if we open our eyes, there are opportunities to learn, grow, and smile all around us – even in the harshest of environments like Los Angeles. And we don't even need to be lucky enough to witness an old lady skateboarding! There are plenty of opportunities everywhere!

I’ve been so busy feeling bad for myself lately that I have failed to seize all the opportunities I can to learn, grow, and smile, but that stops now. I don't need to escape my reality...I need to become one with it and enjoy the little things.

Maybe open your eyes today, too, and take a good look around. :)