It's been a while since I've written a blog entry. Today's topic will be about beginnings and endings, comings and goings. The following quote doesn't really have much to do with what I wanted to say, but it's just to make a statement that little things and events can slowly, or unknowingly, disappear or can become forgotten.
The greatest hazard of all - losing one's self - can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all. No other loss can occur so quietly; any other loss - an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc. - is sure to be noticed. Soren Kirkegaard
This morning, I awoke knowing that today would be the last day I would see one of my teachers in a long while. Usually, it's the students who leave the teachers, but this is my first encounter of a teacher leaving his students (whether by choice or force). It is safe to say that as large as Earth is, sometimes the world feels small. (It's those small, extraordinary events like coincidentally seeing a friend at a store who you haven't seen in a decade.)
Whenever I meet a teacher who has influenced or touched my life and know that they will be leaving their job or retiring shortly after I meet them, I cannot help but wonder about what will happen to those people. This teacher, in particular, is elderly. I met him in June last year, and today was his last day of teaching before he is off to teach in a different country. He thinks he may not or may not be able to come back to teach my class again in the future. That thought left me wondering if my friends and I will ever see, talk, or hear from him in the future.
I guess that quote is somewhat relate-able now. At least, to me. It's a quote that my senior English teacher assigned my group to present and teach our classmates. Those two events (the quote and the leaving of my teacher) have made me become melancholy. But, as anyone can say, there is always a bright side to every darkness.
The leaving of my teacher has helped me realize that life is short and fleeting, no matter how elderly one can get. The amount of years a person has lived through cannot determine the amount of wisdom they have. And those who have wisdom and touch the lives of others teach that greatness (and happiness) cannot be achieved without time, energy, and a bit of luck and attitude.
Out there in the world, everywhere, people are trying their best to cope with everyday life. Knowing that I am not alone helps. I guess, this is the saying that is most appropriate for this moment: Cherish what you have while you still have it, because once what you have is gone things will not be the same as it use to be.
