I’ve been thinking about how there is that saying “treat the others the way how you want to be treated”. Don’t think it works though. Or there is something fundamentally missing in my understanding of the idea. Or there is something I don’t see. I do what I do and I hope that it would rub onto people and that being on a taking side they would come to understand the other one too. Not many are prepared to walk a mile in another’s shoes. Not all would see it with the eyes of another. Maybe this is how it should be - one’s own shirt is always closer to the skin. How often when we give a change to some misfortunate homeless begger our thought extends further then the satisfaction of our own deed, how many of us would take a moment to imagine where this person will go tonight, what they will eat and what kind of thoughts would occupy their mind after yet another day spent on the streets…yes, we did gave them something, shared a tiny piece of our fortune, but do we do it to feel better about ourselves or do we put ourselves into their place and saw the world through another’s eyes. When friends hesitate in reaching out, is it because they are afraid they won’t be at their best in the face of a challenge or because they never realise what their touch might mean for another. It doesn’t matter what you say, only that you do make an effort to say something. He used to say I wanted to get you flowers but there were no flowers good enough for someone like you. I could count times when he did brought me flowers in almost quarter of century being together and this won’t be a double figure. And if you’d ask me at least once, you’d know I would take a single wild flower stem you picked up off the road side on your way home instead of all those words that appeared worth nothing in the end anyway…someone calls in almost as a weekly routine and talks about their days passing by. Never asks about mine. Days. Or thoughts. Never asks even if I want to listen. They just want to talk. And I understand this. And I listen. And I build this image of me when I have no needs of my own, no problems of my own, nothing of my own to share. I’m there just for another, to their convenience. A background girl. To bring a peace of mind into your day only when you need it. could’ve run a small business off it, could I…Take your shoes off. And put on mine. And live a day in my skin…does it ever occur to you that strong people may appear strong not because of their attitude, but because they are conscious of affecting the others and because of that have no other choice, but to rely on themselves, while the “weak” ones take every chance to involve the world into their weaknesses. I have nothing against complains and rants and cries for help. Just saying that if you don’t ask, nobody cares by default.