The goodness of Halo.

So I thought I had problems. I was trying to run away from them, again. Yet again. Typical me. But then, as I was sitting in the airport, thinking, basically fucking up my mind with everything imaginary and pointless, I saw a text. "Hey Moo, ssup?" That was it. I needed someone to talk to. I have alienated most of my friends (for various reasons; the one I have seemed to not really care). So I started talking to this chap I will not call by name; for clarity, let's call him Halo (he loves the game, hence). Halo is one of those happy-go-lucky guys. If we need to fit this into a movie scenario, Anand would work best as an example. Halo is Anand; I am Amitabh's character. At times, I find Halo's cheerful disposition infuriating. He's always smiling, always has a kind word or two, is always asking me to look on the bright side of things and find reasons to be happy. He surprises me with his attitude. And it becomes all the more surprising (and inspiring) if you know his history. Halo is currently undergoing chemotherapy for cancer (in the early stages). Hairfall has happened, he told me he also feels weak and retches frequently (all side-effects of the chemo). The first batch didn't work out, so now the doctors will start on a second one with a different medication the next weekend. He hopes that will do the trick. Halo has also lost a lot of weight. His parents, both of them, had to undergo serious operations in the past year. Halo himself was involved in a road accident and while he survived, his friends in the car passed away. He lost his job due to medical reasons. He lost his sister and then his best friend. But throughout all this, what Halo did not lose was his zest for life. He proudly and determinedly proclaims that he will survive the rot. I asked him to give me a few tips, on what keeps him going. Halo had a simple mantra: "Live in the moment, make the most of it and laugh". He told me some things I will never ever forget (and I hope to god I never do). That if I cannot take care of myself, I shouldn't expect anyone else to. Pertinent. Realise that you have to make your own happiness instead of entrusting that to someone else. People will listen to your problems and there are people who will try to help you earnestly too. But they will behave according to what they think is right or what they think is best for you. In most of the cases, it's not what you feel you want or what you think is best for you, so you have to trust yourself and make your own decisions. Never expect anyone to understand you or claim to be there for you when you need it. For a multitude of reasons, it doesn't happen, so it's better if we can prepare ourselves from it from the start. Love yourself, greet everyone with a smile. Give yourself more time, rather than getting close to someone else. At the end of the day, you need to be there for yourself. And as we were talking relationships (his very best friend broke up with him sometime last year and he has been in epic agony ever since), he told me something which sounded positively heartening to me: "See, Moo, love needs patience, and knowing when to act and when to keep silent". Quite a decent lesson, that. Which I have decided to implement. Take things as they come. One day at a time. Be calm. Be patient. Damn, I've always wanted to imbibe a wee bit more patience. As Halo says, when I don't even know if it will rain tomorrow or stay sunny, why the hell should I torture myself thinking about what will be ten years down the line?

I think he has a very good point.