A wise man once said, “The hardest thing about this world is living in it.”
I wholeheartedly disagree.
Living is easy; all you have to do is breathe in and out. It’s just that simple. What’s hard, impossible for some in fact, is to make a connection with the billions of souls walking this earth alongside us. Some poor souls cannot reach out and let others in regardless of how hard they try.
They are lonely among us.
They are lost in the wilderness we call civilization.
To those souls, I say this: the emptiness you’re feeling wasn’t designed for your suffering alone. Every single one of us, regardless of our social or financial standing, has been overwhelmed by internal doubts and fears at one time or another. Some of us feel shame for what we perceive as weakness. Even those who appear to have it all feel emotionally bankrupt at times.
But perhaps feeling empty isn’t a sign of weakness at all. There are billions of souls breathing the same air and pondering the same existential questions simultaneously.
“Who am I?”
“Why am I here?”
“Will anyone ever love me?”
“Do I matter at all?”
Perhaps the questions themselves are the answer.
Perhaps the void is the every thing that actually connects us.
So remember, as you rise from your slumber on this seemingly ordinary day…
You are you, and there can be only one.
You are here to seek answers and find love and fulfillment among billions of souls seeking the same treasure.
To love another, you must first love yourself. So do it.
And most important of all: YOU MATTER.
LOVE this. I manage a page called “The Daily Awe” on Facebook. I’m going to share this there. It’s something I think that audience would really resonate with. What a beautiful way to start the week!
What a beautiful first comment. Thanks!
Nicely said, Mr. Hook.
Your latest post rocks as well, Jennifer. Thank you.
Thanks Robert, on this side of the pond Monday morning is already advancing into afternoon. I needed that medicine earlier on…but I’ll put it to good use just the same!! 😉
Glad to hear it! Thanks for stopping by.
YOU MATTER Hook. To so many people. And you are right – even the most together people have their demons and their moments. And it’s ok to be in a rut sometimes. As long as you can find your way back out
Well said, Daile.
You matter too, by the way!
Thank you for this. Good words to read as I struggle to start my day.
I hope you won the fight!
Ehhhh
Hey! This is good medicine to jump start the week! Thanks.
Just call me Doctor Hook…
Thank you for this today, I needed the reminders 🙂
I live to serve.
Mr. Hook–awesome!
A great word, Professor!
Thanks!
He woke with words in his soul.
He spoke, with a deft hand, and a sweet eloquence .
Beautifully written, and touching the heart.
Thanks Hook 🙂
Thank you, Jennifer – for always being here.
My absolute pleasure.
What a great message for a Monday. Thanks, Hook.
You’re more than welcome!
Well said! Good words.
Good comment!
Thanks!
Thanks Hook. Early morning insight is the best. The clearest. Well spoken! Have a great week ahead.
You’ve helped ensure that I do! Thanks!
Wonderful.
Thanks!
Thank you, Robert. Wonderful message on (another) rainy morning. Hope you have a great week!
Cathy
Hope springs eternal, Cathy, so who knows?
Absolutely love this.So true and so honestly written that I am sure it will be a great boost to all reading it.Perfect.
Thank you for boosting my ego a thousand-fold!
You deserve it. You would make an excellent motivator and life coach.
I’m sure I’ve served a few guests who would disagree!
Not to mention my wife! I can’t even get the dog to listen to me!
But thanks!
Great. Stuff.
Be well my Friend.
Great. Comment.
Thank you, my leader.
Beautiful sentiments!
Beautiful comment!
What a thought-provoking post, Hook! I love it. If I didn’t know differently, I would guess you had a stroll with Daisy deer in the woodlands this morning! Have a great day, my friend!
I wish!
Thanks!
You are a very wise man, My Friend. It seems a few days off from your much loved usual fare has inspired brilliance.
Thank you for recognizing my unique wisdom, Michelle.
Like I said, I have no idea where this came from, but I’m sure glad I took time from my hiatus to share it with all of you.
Awesome post Robert, there were definitely times in my life that I needed to hear something like this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Rohan.
Thanks for always reading, mate.
I’m a firm believer that the truest of ideas visit us early, before we’ve had a chance to put on our armor and talk ourselves out of them. I’m glad you bolded this: Perhaps the void is the every thing that actually connects us.
One of my favorite singer/songwriters is David Wilcox (the American one), who has a song about loneliness, well, a few of them, but the one that came to mind was one he wrote upon visiting the Biltmore House, near where he lives in Asheville, NC. It’s titled, “That’s What the Lonely Is For”.
Great tune!
Thanks!
Love this.
And I love praise, so everyone wins!
It’s so nice to be reminded every day from any random source, that YOU DO MATTER! Thanks, Mr. Hook, or should I say ‘CAPTAIN HOOK”?!!!
I like that! Thanks – for everything!
Thank you.
No, thank you.
Very true, Hook. Wherever it came from, it’s from a good place!
Yes, indeed. I only hope I can return there someday soon.
Wherever this came from, it’s very well said, Robert! As for the void, that can be anything, everything and nothing. It’s up to us to fill it in. ‘Empty’ sounds as nice as tabula rasa…
Happy Monday! 🙂
I was just thinking that this morning, Marina! You truly see the world through the eyes of a visionary…
Thanks for dropping by.
🙂
It’s really hard to hug myself and type a response at the same time. 🙂
Do your best but don’t sprain anything.
ahaha! I’ll try not too!
I’m ready to kick a little ass tomorrow. Thank you, sir.
Go for it!
(What can I say? I’m a child of the Eighties.)
Me too, friend. 🙂 Me too.
You matter today…you matter tomorrow….YOU matter big time 🙂
Thank you for saying so!
This is lovely, Hook. I think a lot about people I see out there – yes, “lost in the wilderness”. I appreciate your thoughts here.
I find it difficult to wholeheartedly agree I matter – we’re all replaceable/people get over us, get by, but I understand the concept. All human life matters, really. I like that saying “Where there’s life, there’s hope”.
Indeed.
Well said, old friend.
Your posts speaks a great deal of truth, child of the 80s or not. And….there are some people are are probably thanking God above that there is only one me. More than one might be a little overwhelming, Hook! Sandy
Stop that, Sandy!
You’re the only you for a reason and it’s not a bad thing at all!
Thanks for stopping by.
Very touching Hook! Even though you have an Awesome sense of Humor….You also have a BIG HEART & Generous Soul! Great post my friend 🙂 🙂 *Catherine* Your Biggest FAN! LOL
Your faith sustains me, Catherine.
Thank you.
Nicely said.
There used to be an old saying “When I get my shit together….” Obviously the response to that has to be “that happens pretty much every morning – no excuses – get up and do something with what you’ve got, time’s a wasting” and “the bad times are what makes you appreciate the good times” (those old timers can be pretty blunt sometimes…annoyingly so)
Love your spin on all this – (does it ever amuse you that some day others will be quoting your words as wisdom from those older and wiser? No doubt it’ll happen)
(Crazy times here – trying to catch up on reading. apologies for being late to the party)
NEVER apologize, my friend, I’m the most absent friend of all it seems!
As for my legacy, I just wish I could receive a tenth of this future recognition right now!
Thanks for stopping by.
I read this article in HuffPo.
‘Why Generation Y Yuppies Are Unhappy ‘
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wait-but-why/generation-y-unhappy_b_3930620.html
When you take away the generational references, we, across the chronological spectrum, are the same. We think everyone else is [positive comparative attribute] than we are.
We are better or worse in some ways, and we are not in some ways. Realising that every one of us has the same insecurities and fears despite our talents and skills, helps.
Good post, Hook. Nice to see the softie in you. 🙂
Kate
To be honest, Kate, I’m extremely soft – in the middle, unfortunately.
And by the way, I’ve published three more posts since this one, but the hiatus is still in effect. Promise!