This is my second attempt at writing this because I want to keep this short and simple, because the point is very simple. I jumped on the CalTrain one Saturday a couple weeks ago. Zone 3 to Zone 1. San Francisco. I just finished a week that had brought a lot of frustration and I needed to distract myself.
I rushed to get on the train, and this one was different than the rest I was used to. I didn’t get my own seat on the second level, like usual, where I could just silently sit and gaze out the window then inevitably fall asleep. This time the train was cramped and the air was thick with a very somber mood. Down the isle from me there was a woman who had obviously suffered very serious burns to her face & arms and right across from me there were two older men. One with such drastic curvature to his back that he needed a walker to get around and the other with a cane and the appearance of somebody who had seen everything in this world.
After several stops, the older gentleman with the walker got up and bade his friend adieu. As the train continued, the other older gentleman began to get curious as to how far we were from his stop in San Francisco. He asked me for the time, I told him and explained how many stops it would be until we reached our destination.
Identifying with his inexperience with the area, I asked him where he was from. He explained that he was on his way to see some of his family. He then explained that he was old, and with a very proud, dignified voice he said it made him feel like a man to be able to get around on his own, even if he did need a cane. It made me smile. I hope to carry myself with that much pride and self-respect when I am his age. What he said next though, is the point of this story. He said “you know, these (pointing to his legs) don’t always work very well, no… and this (pointing to his groin), eh, it doesn’t work so well anymore either, but you know what? Life is beautiful.” “Yeah?” I replied. “Yes, life is beautiful. Look at everything around us. There’s so much to enjoy and appreciate on God’s green earth. Life is beautiful.”
Those words have resonated with me ever since. No matter what is wrong, no matter what seems impossible to overcome, just remember, life is beautiful.
