Pigeon holes and Eagle eyes

A friend posted this absolute gem on facey the other day "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle".  On the first read, I felt complacent.  But for some reason I read it again, and it literally sat me on my ass.

I immediately began thinking about EVERYONE and started figuring out their battles.  Most were easy - financial, ill health, weight, employment, loneliness, time management, addiction and relationship battles.  But there were a few people that I just couldn't pigeon-hole.  What could their battles be?  These people seemed to have it all* - success in their chosen field, good health and happiness.

The solution? Stalking. I started to stalk.  I went back and read their online profiles with an eagle eye.  I tried to delve into their online thoughts that had manifested out of their fingertips.  I literally puzzled over these few people, even in the dead of night when sleep evaded me.  Battles, where for art thou battles?

Even though I couldn't quite figure it out, I asked myself one question "would I want to be that person?".  In every case, the answer was a resounding no. 

Some battles can never be won, but with age comes wisdom and I'm beginning to accept that I need to adapt to certain situations and learn to cope.

And, just by simply typing that admission, I then had this...ding!...a lightbulb moment.  Maybe these unpigeonholeable (yes, I take full responsibility for that extraordinary addition to the English language) people had adapted? 

Perhaps their coping mechanisms were so well honed that in fact their battles were now just par for the course?  Perhaps they did have massive financial worries, but had been to the bank, sorted out their finances and were living on a strict budget?  Maybe their loneliness was being fulfilled online?

That was the answer :-) Those few people whose battles I couldn't quite suss out had learned to cope.  So although their problems weren't as obvious to the rest of us, they were indeed fighting battles too, but just fighting them on the d-lo. 

Hallelujah, no longer will these people keep me awake! God bless blogspot.

So, in closing, I'd like to maturally finish with: Nyah, nyah unpigeonholeable people that have it all*, I have got you sussed.  You too, are battling "something".  I know it.  I don't know what. But I know you've got it under control.  I can rest easy now.



*My own interpretation of "all".

PS. For those who are interested, the quote is attributed to both TH Thompson & John Watson.  However, that absolute legend Plato said the following waaaaay before those dudes "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle".