Tim Douglas

Even When It Feels Like The World Is Against You, I Hope You Don’t Let Yourself Become Jaded

At a certain point in our lives, we learn the consequences of being kind. We learn that even if you give out kindness, love, and compassion, there is no requirement or rule for it being returned. In fact, in many cases, you may have experienced the opposite.

You may have experienced that despite your genuine gestures, you’ve not been met with the same. You’ve been met with disappointment and hurt. You’ve received the unfortunate end of the stick. The kind that’s poky, sharp, and leaves you with cuts and dull hands.

Because you can’t predict how another human will act towards you. You can’t force someone to reciprocate your selflessness. You can’t force anyone to be or see or want you in their lives in a specific way. Likewise, you can’t control life’s external circumstances. There is no crystal ball into the future that will guide us gracefully across any rough terrain.

And in result, you may feel like life has the upper hand. Like your only choice is to hide and seek out comfort under any cost. To sacrifice your authenticity for a life of shelter.

And while you may still hold this inherent softness, anything can be broken without care. Anything, including you, can retract and become hardened and frail.

It may feel that every time you offer your vulnerability, it gets taken for granted. It may feel exhausting, as if there’s no upside to your kindhearted self.

It may feel like life will only continue to let you down.

But even though the world may have shown you its unpleasant cards, I hope you don’t become jaded. I hope that you cling harder to the delicate parts of you. I hope that instead of building up unbreakable walls, you continue to let your walls act as a presence, rather than a border keeping everyone out. I hope that you still see the world with romanticism and lust.

I hope you learn to love this side of you. I hope you recognize there is no real winning in creating armor so impossible to tear down. Because when you become jaded, you miss out on all that life has to offer. The good, the bad, and the feelings that make us human. The life that is meant to be lived by you and for you.

The world needs people like you. The world needs your kind heart. The world needs you exactly as you are. All your inner-workings, all your emotions and all your vulnerability.

So please, don’t become jaded in this temporary life. Live fully, live outwardly, and live 100% authentically you.