My wish is universal: that people are kind to each other as much as possible. This may sound vague, or impossible even, but if we start with ourselves, then eventually the world will be covered with a domino of people touching each other and being kind. Selflessly.
It's easy to be kind to the ones who give love back to you. You're given love, and you return some.
There's this Dutch author called Arthur Japin, who once said that love is multiplied, not shared. And I thought this was one of the most beautiful things I've heard about love. If love would be measured, it could be a pound of love.
This pound will then not be devided by the people involved. No - that pound of love would be multiplied. So, if you love long enough, if you love enough people, the world will be the companion of more sweet and kind people, than anxious, sad, angry ones. And wouldn't it be a nice thought that this love would eventually touch even the anxious, sad or angry people?
Meet Arthur Japin.
A few weeks ago when my love and I stopped by a bar for something to eat, and decided to have a cup of coffee after the meal, the waiter surprised us by saying the coffee was "on the house". Afterwards we had a little chat where I thanked him for the free coffee, and he said it was because the sun was shining again after our town being covered in snow for a month (or so). Finally, he got to see the world in colours again. It made him happy, I guess. And he made us feel special. Just by that tiny gesture he created a little bit of unexpected magic.
Magic is created in different ways. On different times.
A beautiful moon in the sky while sitting in the train.
When my freckles are woken up by my sweetheart´s kisses when I´m still sleepy and dreamy. The way he and I fall in love with each other all over again. Every day. For the last twenty years.
The joy I feel whenever I sing along to music I love. And before I know it, the rhythm flows from my ears to my hips, and my heart shouts: dance, dance!
My dear friends.
On Tuesday I went to see this show: Men are from Mars, Women from Venus. A monologue by a Dutch actor, Huub Stapel. The monologue was based on the book of the same name by John Gray. The show was fun (I laughed my ass off for the greater part of the show), was interesting in a certain way (it focussed on the different approaches by men and women when it comes to all matters of the heart), and may even have opened some eyes. But you know what I loved most about that night? Seeing my dear friend enjoying herself so much. This night out was my birthday gift to her, but actually she gave me the best gift a long time ago. Longlife friendship.
Yesterday I visited a sweet friend from Germany, who I hadn't seen in a long time. It was so great to see her again. To see her son. You only realize you haven't seen each other for a lot longer than imagined, when the baby you held "not long ago" is now 5 years old. Totally into Cars.
There were three aspects quite magical about our meet-up.
To see that language isn't a barrier when a Dutch grown-up kid (my sweet husband) clicks with a German not-so-grown-up kid (my friend's son). They joked about, enjoyed themselves, while my friend and I were catching up.
When we started to leave, she hugged me so tightly that my whole soul bathed in love that comes from being friends. Without boundaries.
And as a special bonus her son said to her while we were on our way to the door: "they can come back tomorrow, right?"
My friend gave me this book years ago, and it says it all.
Today another dear friend of mine was supposed to drop by. She and I met a few years ago while at work. And we have been close friends since. This afternoon she texted that due to the flu she was unable to come visit. But hey, these things happen, don't they? How many times do you plan things and then something happens and, wham, you have to reschedule. The only thing I'm sure of is that our friendship will never be rescheduled. We understand each other, and don't ever question why sometimes we do not see each other for weeks in a row, while other times we talk regularly.
So many friends, so many kinds of friendships, but all very special to me.
To give love to people who give it back to you is easy. Being understandig and loving to the people who critize you, challenge you - that's a whole other story.
You get hurt sometimes, and wonder why this person doesn't understand or even know you after all these years.
Or you feel the need to put yourself outthere, convince them that you are worthwhile, and fight for your rights.
And then you might get angry, frustrated. I did.
I am trying to make sense of it all. And the only thing I truly understand is that all people are different. Some have their heart on their sleeve, and you can tell what's going on just by looking at them. Others not so much. They're introvert, not capable of loving completely, or showing that love.
And here I am, showing them my love. It's okay to be different, we don't need to be the same. Love is all there is. And even when this difficult thing is keeping you apart, just send universal love to them. It's the only thing you can do. And maybe it will work itself out.
And then sometimes, magically.. you meet people that warm your heart almost immediately. For me those two people are friends from San Diego, lovely people I met through the internet, and who I wouldn't have met if it wasn't for my love of music, and one musician specifically: Jason Mraz. Because of his raw food diet, and the way it reflects on his health, I got interested in Whole Foods. And there they were. We emailed and they gave me the most warm welcome anyone could ever wish for. So dear friends, thank you so much. Recently I had the pleasure of listening to one of their songs: Heaven, a sweet full of love and dedication song. And I sincerely hope they had a great time performing with Mr A-Z last night. I'm thinking about you guys.
Love is love. Whether this is from being lovers, friends, family, or because a person just seems to enter your life when you needed him or her the most. You think these are subconscious choices, but I'm slowly but surely embracing the possibility that life isn't just a string of random events or coincidences, but much more meaningful. You meet people with a reason, they're not accidentally there.
This one is for all the people that I love: my sweetheart, my friends, my family:
"If you have much, give of your wealth
If you have little, give of your heart."
My heart is like the universe, unmeasurable but there for every single one of you!
Yours lovingly,
San
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