Our Journey Together Is So Short……..

A young lady sat in a bus with her child going to Crompton Heights.  At the next stop a very loud and grumpy old lady came and sat beside her. Though there was no space as the bus was pretty full, she squeezed into the seat next to the young lady and bumped her with her numerous bags. The bags were so heavy, they were all over the young lady, but she never said a word. The old woman even muttered to herself, though in a loud voice for others to hear, ‘See, I am so old and haggard, this young lady has no manners. She can easily stand and give me a place to sit, instead she is nicely sitting relaxed. I had to literally squeeze myself and make myself comfortable. These youngsters are not at all bothered in taking care of the old citizens.’ So saying she made more room for herself.

The young lady was listening to her and she was not feeling irritated at all. She was as calm and unruffled as a mother-hen. Instead she was quietly reading her book. In the meantime, all this drama was being seen by the person sitting on the other side of the young lady who was very upset and was seething inside. He had to say something. He asked her, ‘Dear Ma’am, I am watching for quite some time what is happening between you two. With no fault of yours, why are you not saying something to this old lady and keeping quiet as if nothing has taken place. I am surprised that though she has burdened you with her heavy bags, it is she who needs to apologize and say sorry, instead she is criticizing you for nothing.’

The young lady responded with a smile: ‘It is not necessary to be rude or argue over something so insignificant, the journey together is so short. I get off at the next stop’. This response deserves to be written in golden letters:

‘It is not necessary to argue over something so insignificant, our journey together is so short.’

If each one of us realized that our time here is so short, that to blacken it with quarrels, not forgiving others, discontentment and a fault finding attitude would be a waste of time and energy.

Did someone break your heart? Be calm, the journey is so short. Did someone bully, cheat or humiliate you? Be calm, forgive, the journey is so short. Whatever troubles anyone brings us, let us remember that our journey together is so short. No one knows the duration of this journey. No one knows when their stop will come. Our journey together is so short.

Let us cherish friends and family. Let us be respectful, kind and forgiving to each other. Let us be filled with gratitude and gladness. If I have ever hurt you, I ask for your forgiveness. If you have ever hurt me, you already have my forgiveness. After all, dear friends: OUR JOURNEY TOGETHER IS SO SHORT.