The present

How well do we know people? How well do we even know ourselves? In the new-age spirit of things media, books, films, etc. are always telling people to search their own souls. Before combing through different people, places and experiences, know yourself like the back of your hand first. (seems easy, there’s nothing distinct on the backs of anyone’s hands I think)

So I’m gonna assume you’re not a stranger in your own body. If you are, call the cops! Tell them you have a breaking-and-entering, an intruder. Tell the police to hurry. This is a joke. Well duh, it is. Moron; I can hear some of you saying. No worries, I get that a lot.

Anyways, people are complex, sophisticated beings. Each one different different than the next, maybe similar but never the same. A nuclear engine is less complicated than the nuances and idiosyncrasies unique to each person. An individual. (Sleazy men, you can’t lump all girls into one category, which is “play things”, they aren’t. I see you)

If people are so complex then can we really know someone? Truly know them? Impossibru, right? Everyone has their secrets, everyone has their thoughts and actions that they want to keep hidden (unless the action was criminal, then turn yourself in) We only know bits and pieces about others. Unless you’re a mind and/or heart reader.

Some fragments of other people we see because they allow us to, they share. Some shards of them are noticeable if you really pay attention and genuinely look hard enough. Some nuggets will remain hidden to all, except themselves, forever. So we gotta accept that we can’t ever really know anyone but ourselves and so we should treat everyone nicely because the things they keep hidden may be them battling their personal struggles.

Seems like I’m going somewhere deep with this right? Wrong. How do we find the perfect present for someone? (Perfect to the best of your abilities) If we don’t really know them fully, do we know em’ well enough to pick out a thing they might like and cherish? Something they won’t chuck into a dustbin or keep at the backest part of a shelf?

I read somewhere that receiving unwanted gifts (unwanted in the sense that you don’t like the particular present, not presents in general) can actually make you like a person less. Thats kinda sad if its true. The person tries to show you they appreciate you and you end up disliking them for awhile maybe.

So the way to find a perfect gift? 2 ways that I know of:
1) ask them what it is they want (and remove all element of surprise)
2) try to know them well (50/50 chance they’ll like it here)

Maybe there is a 3rd option, just give em’ money to buy their own stuff? But I don’t know, that seems the most impersonal to me. I’ll end with a quote. Phew, finally; I heard that.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” -Maya Angelou

I don’t know if the quote fits, it just seemed relevant to me. مع السلامة

Birthdays, anyone?

      

What are birthdays? I’d assume its the day you were born. But what’s the significance of it? I have no concrete ideas although I do have several theories.

With age comes responsibility, getting older means getting wiser. Hopefully wise enough to know but still young enough to do it. Getting old is a right of passage of sorts. A transition from being you depending on others to others depending on you now.

Another thing might be to remind people about how much time has past and how much time is left. An entire year spent with little or no successes? Bummer. Better kick it into high gear, time’s running out.

Conversely birthdays might be a sign to slow down. In this day and age sometimes we live too fast, too furious. Wouldn't want life to pass us by like a blurry line of a car racing past. Later in life, we usually learn to enjoy the little things in between more rather than Big things (cars, vacations, hotels).

Lastly, cake. Birthdays is nature’s way of telling you to eat more cake.

If its your birthday today as you read this, then I wish you happy birthday. May life keep giving you lemons for you to make lemonade. (Or any other fruit you want, its just a metaphor)