I was working on star-folding, with 2 really hard straws (as usual). While I was folding the fifth edge, the very first section, the part where the 2 straws were joined together, broke off. I looked at the half-done star, with all the folds, and at that time, did think of throwing the 2 straws away, and start with a pair of new straws.
But no. Eventually, I did not.
I gave myself, and the straws, another chance.
I separated the 2 straws, and restart, tracing back each and every step, this time with more emphasis and concentration on the starting point. And yes, the star has been completed successfully. No wastage of straws. Just a little bit more time. And some more experience gained.
Isn’t that the same as life?
You tried to do something. The result was not what you have desired it to be. You get frustrated and wanted to give up. Perhaps eventually, you would. Or perhaps, you would persevere, and in the end, gain something valuable.
Giving up, does not affect 1 thing. It actually affects lots of things, if you bother to look closely. Of course, some of you might say, “hey, giving up does not have any effect on me.”
Quit dreaming. Stop attempting to self-deceive.
Let’s say, if I gave up on continuing to complete the straw, the star would not have been completed. I would have 1 less star, and the 2 straws would have been wasted, and most probably would end up in my rubbish bin, and later, down the chute, to the rubbish collector, to the incenerator, burned, and perhaps, buried.
It’s a loss, if I did not give myself a chance to redo the star. It’s a loss, if the straws were thrown away.
There are solutions to a lot of things out there. Some solutions might be better than some other, and some might be better if not used. The important message is, are you going to give things a chance?
Are you going to give that guy next door a chance? Are you going to give your loved one a chance? Are you going to give yourself a chance?
Sometimes, interesting things do happen, when given a chance. You will get unexpected results, which might end up much much better than what you originally thought possible. Or maybe not. Who knows. It’s a gamble.
But at least, you have tried, and you did not give up.
Yes, I have been making stars. And yes, sometimes, I just don’t feel like making them. My fingers hurt. My muscles ache. But I do make it a point to at least put 2 straws on my table everytime I do not make a star. And then, eventually, I will complete the stars.
No. No giving up.
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Sometimes, I see things happening around, and I start thinking, why is the scene like that? 1 side is fighting hard, and the other side act (or maybe they are really sotong) as if there is nothing happening.
It’s so bad.
And so sad too.
Sounds like something that I have gone through again and again.
Maybe.