Every single birth is almost synonymous to the planting of a seed within the fabric of the universe. When enough people care for the seed, and when enough people pray and hope that it survives, it will surely burst open to expose a rich and healthy plant. Similarly, when human beings care for and root for a young soul, it will surely bloom into greatness.
However, the difference between seeds and human beings is that after a certain point, even when others stop caring for us and rooting for us, we do not simply wither and die. Instead, we have the responsibility of surviving and becoming good people.
Life is a journey. It is a journey whose course we cannot predict, but hold the power to change. We are often taught that life is balanced and that when we continuously do the right things, then the world will reward us with happiness and peace. This, however, is not true at all. Sometimes, even the kindest people experience the most difficult days while those who are cruel and cold can enjoy years of happiness and success. As young people, it can become difficult to continue pushing through life when it seems as if nothing we do has a positive impact. Nevertheless, perseverance is the price we must pay in exchange for a potentially fulfilling future.
Recently, I discovered that there is a phenomenon called ‘brood parasitism’ that occurs amongst birds. This means that some kinds of birds such as Cuckoos and Cowbirds lay eggs in nests that belong to other birds and leave them to hatch and grow amongst the eggs that are already there. This practice can aid the parent bird in laying many eggs without spending energy caring for its offspring while also allowing the offspring a higher chance of survival. Unfortunately, the parasitic chicks are often larger than the original chicks. Thus, they may consume more food and grow larger than them, resulting in malnourishment of the original chicks. Sometimes, the parasitic chick may even knock the original eggs or chicks out of their own nest. Thus, the original occupants of a nest may have a reduced chance of surviving when they are forced to share a home with parasitic chicks.
Although this phenomenon is frustrating to learn about, it is important to remind ourselves that it is simply a part of nature. Neither the parasitic chicks nor their parents experience consequences for their actions, and the original chicks do not get a second chance at life if they do not survive the initial battle.
The world does not often keep track of our mistakes or our good deeds. In fact, it seems as if many of us are barely even remembered for very long. So, it becomes quite simple for us to understand how we must live. We must do positive things, not because we may be rewarded for them, but because they have the potential to lift up the people who share this world with us. Similarly, we must not be unkind because we might hurt the people around us.
If you would like to experience a happy and fulfill-ing life, then make deliberate efforts to plan out your days in a way that will make you feel satisfied and joyful. Remove people and activities that evoke negative emotions from within you. Do not waste energy on keeping track of what others have done to you, for this will only consume your own strength. We are responsible for our own productivity and happiness. If we spend our entire lives waiting for a reward or for revenge, we will waste all of our precious time waiting and not living.
