nan | 楠木

The world’s a funny place. One moment it’s others hurting you, the next moment it’s you hurting others.

The other day I took a phone call that I really did not want to take. I hate confrontations, though there was nothing to fear, at least on my side. I hate it when people have to lay everything on the table and reach a resolution there and then– perhaps I’m too Chinese and prefer the indirect approach.

Whatever. I said a lot of harsh words. A lot of hurt feelings on both sides, I guess, but it can’t be helped.

Perhaps the fact of the matter is, this world is a cruel place, and people hurt each other all the time. We should just learn to grow up and cope with it. Once we’ve past that point, when we’ve fully matured, we’ll be able to stand tall and live better. Before that, it’s just a road of pain.

Growing up is painful. Very. When we were young, our greatest virtue were our innocence, our detachment from all the evils and iniquities of this world. We were clean. Along the way, as we matured, we came into contact with all the impurities there are; some of us became a part of them, turning to greed and selfishness and the tirade ofother sins; as for the rest, though we remained virtuous, our integrity were shaken, and our hearts became scarred. Our innocence lost.

Innocence once lost, it could never be regained. Never mind. Everybody loses it sooner of later. What matters is that wefind courage.

Courage to battle the injustices, to see justice prevail.
Courage to carry on,though the times may be bad.
Courage to remain true to yourself, as the others are changing with the tide.
Courage to forget and forgive, even if you’ve been wronged or mistreated.
Courage to give, and not only take.
Courage to love, when love is so scarce.

Innocence lost, and courage found. That’s what growing up is.