Who can say what sorrow seemingly carefree folk bear to their life's end.

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Each Thursday I select a Viking quote, sometimes randomly chosen and ofttimes based upon relevance or meaning to my life at that point in time. Despite these phrases being over a thousand years old I believe most can still offer value in modern society and I find it interesting to ponder, weigh and measure them. _{original im src}

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This week's Viking quote

Who can say what sorrow seemingly carefree folk bear to their life's end. - Völsunga saga

There's many moving parts to my life and whilst I share some here on my posts, in the main, I keep most of my life quite private; I don't have any other social media and, even if I did, wouldn't feel a compulsion to divulge the inner-workings of my life there - it's just no one's business. But...There's often much going on and whilst outwardly I may look calm and in control inwardly it may be a different matter.

I work hard not to transmit any negative feelings to others in a world where doing so seems acceptable, thanks largely to social media. People air their dirty laundry for the world to see and I assume expect something in return by doing so. I'm not that way inclined. I internalise it and just get on with things rather than project it outwards; this is especially so if my feelings could possibly affect others negatively.

I present what I hope is a carefree demeanour largely and because people see that they respond in kind and that's what I'm after - I don't need or want pity or to bring others down.

Recently someone was a little rude to me; not an acquaintance or friend, a random person in a customer service role who, whilst should have treated me better, did not. It irked me and I walked away feeling hard done-by and disgruntled. I'll likely not return to that place ever again because it was unpleasant, made me feel a little under-valued as a potential customer and plain old angry. How dare they treat me in this way?

But hang on a moment G-dog, what if...

In reflection later I thought about the possible scenarios. I was contemplating writing an email to management at the time - I'm good at those emails, meaning I work them nicely but in a way that carries great weight. I held off though. You see, what if there was something I didn't know? A catalyst for her actions?

Recently a ex-military friend of mine committed suicide after a twenty five year battle with PTSD. It's been tragic, and for his wife...Well, I speak with her every morning and know it's almost destroyed her completely.

The thing is though is that she still functions, no matter what. She had some time out of course, but she's back at work, back being a mum and back living life as there's no other choice right? We just go on. We spoke today about how she feels and that sometimes she becomes so enraged or sinks to her lowest ebb, always lower than the last lowest ebb, feels so desperately alone or betrayed...There's a million things I guess. But she doesn't show it mostly. With me she can fulminate but she tries not to with others.

Enter someone who doesn't know about her plight, let's call them a client of the accounting firm she works with who has no clue what's transpired. Let's say she has a wobbly moment right about then and she doesn't handle the situation well or react in the manner the client feels they deserve. Not a legit thing to do, but do the extenuating circumstances negate the behaviour? I don't know.

It made me think today about my own scenario and the behaviour of that young lass in the shop who treated me, a customer, with a good deal of contempt leaving me feeling a little hard done by...But have I ever done the same? Quite probably. Maybe when my father died last year and I wasn't feeling at all like myself. Maybe when I've sunken to the lows that afflict my life due to past happenings or maybe when I've just had one of those days where everything conspired against me. Is it justification for treating someone poorly? No, not in my estimation. Does it happen? Yes of course.

That's why I chose this Viking quote today.

The human condition

You see, we pass by people in life without a care in the world for them mostly. Strangers, people that don't even register, and we have no clue about what troubles, trials and tribulations they may face or carry; what sorrow they carry and why. But sometimes we cross paths and that's when the potential for trouble arises. No, I'm not condoning poor behaviour towards others, just that I believe we must think a little more laterally in some case, give a little room for the humans we interact with to be human. It's a win-win situation.

"...what sorrow seemingly carefree folk bear to their life's end."

I will carry scars from my past until my dying day. Some have caused me to find courage and strength and others cause me to break, to be broken, like a jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces. All are a part of me though; they make up the person I am. I think we all carry burdens, many in fact. I guess I feel that it's wise to understand our own and how they make us feel, think and act. It makes sense then to understand that others are the same. The human condition is common to all of us.

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So that's it for this week, a thousand year-old Viking quote about understanding of our fellow man and woman, and of ourselves I believe. I see it as a question (phrase) one asks internally, not of another, and one that challenges oneself to think laterally, more deeply and with more compassion and empathy. I'll admit I do not always do so, I can be a hard man, mostly on myself and sometimes on others - The latter not as often these days. But I have compassion and empathy and offer it gladly and willingly and that's why I like this quote.

Please feel free to disagree with me, to tell me a story around this quote or topic or simply react to the quote and let me know what you think.

Skol.