Consider a Leech

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It seems to me that if you consider something to be the most dear, you lose it. Always. Why?

If you love something, let it go. Why?

You can love too much. Again, why?

Consider a leech. A leech is a parasitic organism that attaches itself to a host, feeding off of its blood. Once the leech has taken its fill and grown fat thanks to its host, it simply drops off without so much as a "thank you kindly". This animal thrives in nature, but is despised.

Consider another leech. This leech is on the internet. He/she logs onto FTP sites, looking for free software -- usually pirated, sometimes not. Most data transfer with a leech is directly to his/her computer with nothing in return except "anonymous" and a fake e-mail address. They pollute the newsgroups with file requests and lame questions about passwords and copy protection. This animal thrives on the internet, they are vast in number, but they are despised.

Consider a third leech. This leech is an ordinary human being. He/she is dependent on people, dependent on things, dependent on institutions -- and hangs on for dear life for as long as the "host" can stand them. Then they are wrenched away with disgust, both figuratively and not, starting a vicious cycle -- the leech frantically looks for another host to care for them. These poor souls exist everywhere in life, but they are -- eventually -- despised.

Feeling it cares for others while neglecting all needs but their own. Drowning in fear and worry about the future, life, and etc. What if (blank) goes away? What if? Should this be the primary consideration in ones life? Should it even be a consideration?

Life is bigger than a job. It's bigger than a school. It's bigger than a trip to Hawaii. It's bigger than a bruised ego. It's bigger than that girl you had a crush on, but she dated the other guy. It's bigger than being rejected by the sorority you wanted into. Most importantly, life is bigger than you.

The world seems large and uncaring -- it is in fact a world of opportunity, chances to learn, chances to grow, chances to see, meet, and do. It is indeed large, and can be uncaring or seem that way at times. People are stupid sometimes. Learn to live with it, forgive and forget. Don't ever stop trying. Don't try to figure people out -- you'll just hurt yourself and make a habit of drawing conclusions. Live for yourself and for others. Don't be a leech, and don't put your needs behind the perceived needs of others -- personal happiness is a rare and wonderful thing, don't neglect it.

So let it go. Distance yourself. But be open lest you miss truth in love and life! Love but don't depend. Hold dear but don't crush. A school is just a school, a girl just a girl, a job just a way to make money and greenbacks don't buy happiness -- they are of course all important, but no more than yourself. Life will go on long after the thrill of living is gone, but the joys always come back if you still have the open mind to see. Breathe the air around you, turn your eyes away before you go blind or get sick of looking at something. Multitask. Share yourself. Stay active. Step outside of yourself and really think.

Take time to consider.

Peace.
Andrew W. 12/13/99

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