Archive for the ‘Life’ Category

Today I got an anonymous message:

I think there was a filelight harddrive poster on the wall in “big bang theory” Season 1 Ep. 11

Can anyone confirm?

One beautiful late spring morning in the garden, I played in the sand pit while my parents attended to their strawberries; I was six.

A heard a buzzing and glanced up to see a bee land on the wall surrounding the pit. It walked around a little, exploring the crevices in the brick. It found no nectar, presumably, and as it took off I jumped up and started chasing it. I circled the garden keeping the bee in my sights. Round and round again. It was so much fun! I began to giggle with delight.

Suddenly the bee swerved. A moment of horror took me as I realised, the hunted had became the hunter. Not laughing now I turned and started running circles around the garden the other way. I started screaming. My parents thought it was all part of the same game and ignored me.

Over my shoulder I could hear the buzzing of the bee, sometimes closer, sometimes more distant. But always there. I was tiring. In my heart I realised that the bee was relentless. And it was going to get me.

The fruitlessness of the chase and the inevitable sting scared me plenty. There was nowhere safe I could run. In my barely developed brain I understood without really understanding that I couldn’t escape into the house, as there wouldn’t be room to circle, and I would be trapped, and stung. But my rapidly fatiguing legs were telling me I couldn’t run forever, and I somehow knew the bee could and would.

My flailing legs eventually stopped doing as I was desperately asking them and I faltered. As I fell the terror of impending pain and the fear of the unknown gripped me.

I was stung. I wailed. My parents came to see why I was crying.

But you know the sting wasn’t that bad. Mum applied something to it and the swelling and pain subsided.

I guess I learnt some important things that day. I learnt empathy. I learnt that fear of the unknown is often worse than the thing you fear. I learnt about karma. I learnt the feeling of futility, and the horror of unstoppable pursuit.

What I learnt this year.

Personal

I learnt that people are the most important thing in life. I’ve always known this. But it took me a while to realise that I can’t rest on my laurels everytime I get with a girl. Relationships with people must be nurtured and cared for. Fostered, loved and respected. Be good to people, forgive them. Honour them. Be tolerant of their flaws, because nobody is perfect, and everyone has something to offer.

I learnt that you can’t tell another person what is wrong with them as defence when they are telling you what is wrong with you. There’s a time and a place for that, and it’s not a valid defence, no matter how baseless their attack. It just makes you look worse and unable to defend your actions, or unable to apologise.

I learnt that happiness is not that hard to obtain. Life is amazing, and there’s something around every corner to laugh about and to learn from.

Work

I learnt that working in a team is a lot easier and more productive when you are together in the same room.

I learnt that working in a team is a lot harder and less productive when you are together in the same room.

Love

I learnt that love is blind.

I learnt that people are rarely open with you until you are intimate with them. And even then they hide as much as they can.

I learnt that love is a beautiful thing, and that you can’t relax in a relationship, you have to try, and try, and keep giving the whole time. Don’t ruin something that can be wonderful.

I learnt that relationships are about compromise, and a person who will not compromise back, or does not understand that everything is two way is absolutely bad news, no matter how great they make you feel.

I learnt that women are amazingly complex, and it’s amazing that any man is good enough.

And…

I learnt that life isn’t easy, but if you make the most of it, and stay cheerful, and talk to people, and try hard; every day is rewarding.

On the last day of work before Christmas, we constructed and frolicked about in a ballpit, I blogged about it.

Twice in one year is too much for any man.