An untimely unanticipated moment pleads for an unusual stroll. An escapade from the enslaving computer screen. He looks at the old fashioned pendulum clock on the wall. It's 10:30 at night, the most suitable time to allow fresh cold breeze to revive his weakened lungs. They are growing tired of dispersing frustration and nonsense through his veins.
Ed puts on his white sweatshirt and walks to nearby market. The market is not crowded at all. The street is faintly lighted by the dim yellow lights from the old wooden lamp posts.
People come here at this time to take advantage of the late night disposal sale for the left over groceries.
His breathing deepens. He keeps a subtle smile on his face and walks around appreciating the intrinsic beauty in creation. He is pretty much sure nothing can bother him at this time. He feels relaxed and finds himself in an uncanny, but blissful, dimension of consciousness.
A man in his mid-thirties whisks past by barely missing Ed's shoulder. The man's plastic bag that caged more than what it could hold, couldn't hold any longer. The tomatoes bursts out tearing the bag and scatters all over on the street. The man is perplexed at this unexpected event. He swears at some invisible body or force that was responsible.
He rushes to gather the tomatoes. Undoubtedly, he is not expecting a helping hand amongst the sympathetic, and probably mocking, onlookers.
Ed is one amongst the same crowd, but he is in a little quandary - what to do besides just watching. Would sympathy be enough? Is he waiting for someone else to take the first step, and probably move on after?
He is succumbing to the comfort of his mundane existence. He doesn't want to take chances and look stupid. And then at once, a wind of irrationality blows over his mind, momentarily blinding him to see what's right and what's wrong. He quickly reacts, bends down to collect those tomatoes.
Ed walks over to the man with a slight smile and let the few tomatoes in his hands roll into his new plastic bag. Such a simple action slows the man's quick moving hands that were busy chasing tomatoes. The fierce looking man who was frustrated, probably embarrassed, stops for a subtle moment in amazement. He looks at Ed, and then silently carries on. Yet, Ed saw what his eyes were saying - 'Thank you.'
We often hold ourselves back like we're chained by self-constructed rational reasons. We hesitate to be the first one. And mostly, it is about what people would think about us.
What if we became more spontaneous? What if it was like reflex action? I, however, understand that doing something stupid without thinking will surely land us into trouble. Though, it is also noted that often times we know what is right and what we have to do and still hesitate.
What if we became risk takers; instead of cold and apathetic, we were warm and more spontaneous?
Comment your thoughts below. Thank you for reading. Appreciate it.
Copyright (c) 2016 Shine Jayakumar
