Our Souls are Forged in Fire

I think it's apparent that life can be pretty brutal and unfair.

Complaining about it gets you nowhere, though. Especially in a world where people often beat you down further for whining, start comparing your situation to people who are worse off and attempt to invalidate your suffering, simply don't care, or are too busy suffering themselves to offer you any solace or assistance.

The key to getting through life's suffering is love, of course, but preaching about love will get you labeled as a wide eyed, naive fool. Even worse, it's likely to be seen as inconsequential rambling at best or worthless drivel at worst - why even bother talking about love? Why bother talking about the value other people hold in your life? Why does that matter? "How sweet," people think, before quietly moving on. "What a fool," people think, before writing you off. "What a loser," people think, laughing at you. "This is dumb," people think, not finding entertainment or gratification in your words. The message is lost. And this doesn't simply apply to preaching about love - it applies to how people seem to view love as a whole. People are preoccupied with the bare necessities in their lives, lost in hedonistic tendencies, lost in their minds, lost in their goals, lost in their desires, lost in their sorrow, lost in themselves.

In an often loveless world, how does one react? What is one supposed to do?

I don't think there's a single answer to that question, but humor is an invaluable weapon in the war against the world. It will protect you, and help others in their own suffering. People may write off preaching more often than not, but humor is much more likely to light people up from the inside out. Take nothing seriously, joke all the time, laugh. Laugh at everything, laugh at yourself. I'll gladly play the fool if it can make other people laugh and smile.

I used to take myself very seriously. I would avoid things I found beneath me, I would judge others, I was a stickler for rules, I was a perfectionist, I took every tiny bit of criticism or slander to heart, and I wanted people to recognize me. I was also miserable. Eventually you just have to ask yourself, "Why let the world keep beating you down?" Loosen up.

A world of suffering opens your heart.