"An anthropologist studying the habits and customs of an African tribe found himself surrounded by children most days. So he decided to play a little game with them. He managed to get candy from the nearest town and put it all in a decorated basket. at the foot of a tree.
Then he called the children and suggested they play the game. When the anthropologist said "now", the children had to run to the tree and the first one to get there could have all the candy to him/herself.
So the children all lined up waiting for the signal. When the anthropologist said "now", all of the children took each other by the hand ran together towards the tree. They all arrived at the same time divided up the candy, sat down and began to happily munch away.
The anthropologist went over to them and asked why they had all run together when any one of them could have had the candy all to themselves.
The children responded: "Ubuntu. How could any one of us be happy if all the others were sad?"
Ubuntu is a philosophy of African tribes that can be summed up as "I am what I am because of who we all are."
Bishop Desmond Tutu gave this explanation in 2008 :
"One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu – the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity. We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole World. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity."
This week has been Holy week and I've been to church more often then I would in a month! Maundy thurs, gd fri, easter. And thanks to that I'm not nearly as suicidal nor murderous as I should be.
As as some might know, I just broke up with my wife to be. It was an "Adult" decision of analysis rather than pure love. But hey. Marriage is not about just you and me (esp in an Asian context) its about life, religion, family, and extended family.
And of course I've been feeling like crap due to the lack of traction from all the work that I have put in (not to mention time spent away from building bonds with my now lost partner). Whereas my peers have some form of movement, all I'm feeling is a great sense of inertia. Of course I try to get closer to another prospective person whom I am charmed by her positiveness and above all... Of course even that isn't going anywhere near how I would like it to be.
What I can say is, my life isn't going any way that I like right now. But there are many less fortunate out there.
What I can offer is that if you feel alone you are not. For there is God. And if you feel that God is not answering, I hope that at least I can answer and say a nice warm hello to all you netizens out there.
How can I feel happy if the others are sad?
Here's a nice warm Virtual Hug People.
Good night
