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White Moth by Michael Tartàglia, © 2000 |
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There flutters a white moth. Normally, I see the typical brown ones, but this one is too pleasuring to my eyes. Frantic and carelessly, it crawls, flies, and hops around, before settling on my bright comforter. Switching the ceiling light off, it takes on a new heading for the less bright light. This moth seems undisturbed by its surroundings -- and admirable quality, I must say. I know it does not care what I think about it, as it does not have the mental capacity to do so. The human species is much the same. We all walk around aimless. Though many have goals to achieve, how many of us walk down a busy street and care about others? It's all blissful ignorance. Now the moth rests on the inner-side of the lamp shade... What separates humanity from any other organism on this planet, fundamentally, are abilities to change our surroundings, change ourselves, comprehend philosophies and understand events. Many of us are not critically blind; the few who are do not think or change. A moth changes from a worm, but can it comprehend rhetoric? If you are like the moth and spend life oblivious to your surroundings, you will never know where you are. If you spend life wondering "why you are," you will forget, too, to just live. There is a level of compromise that has to be made. Once this balance is made, then things start clicking and life becomes fuller. Reasoning becomes less self-defensive or gratifying; it becomes less biased. There is a greater appreciation of living. Food tastes better, colors look more beautiful, love feels more priceless. One day, when it all comes to an end, the balance you made (between acting through life and understanding "why") can help you focus on a wonderful lifetime. A short, but glorious life. Humans are obviously not moths flying about, but it is amazing what such a little creature can inspire you to think; this dumb creature cleverly hints us the clues about life. |
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