Ahmad Al Charif

It has come to my attention, that there is this new movement everybody has been actively joining lately. It is more of a cult actually.

The number of people involved varies from 2 or 3, to a dozen handful. Sometimes, if you look hard enough you might even find a self formed cult of One.

So what do these people do, in these cults? Well, it is a fairly simple set of rituals. But much like most cults, they lead to nothing but waste of time, and self destruction.

The members start the meeting by fake smiling at each other, then they proceed to discuss other people, bashing left and right to their hearts’ content. Criticizing this guy for talking a certain way, or that dude over there for the choices he made in life. Ladies join in harmoniously, through the very popular ritual of “gossip”, as they pick apart every visible, and invisible part of another person, holding her deformed image mentally fixed, as they bash away and unleash the fury of their sharpened tongues.

The meeting escalates, as the rituals move rhythmically from one person to the next. Sometimes an orchestra of loud noises deviate from the main topic, as individuals break loose from the subject at hand, and the melody now is a joined effort of many, singing loudly the dislike/disapproval/disgust of various people all at once.

Laughter ensues, sometimes hysterical crying with the occasional burst of physical and verbal abuse between members of the same cult. But the end result is often one and the same: Envy.

What did he/her do to deserve this awesome job/boyfriend/girlfriend. They are such a kiss-ass. Look at the car he is driving! I know he did not pay for that. His dad has ocean deep pockets, he must be dealing, money laundry! Etc…

They look at the good other people seem to have, and wish it upon themselves. They wish it so badly and so intensely, that they feel betrayed when nothing actually happens, despite the ritual being repeated so many times.

But people’s lives, are far from perfect. You cannot judge happiness by only looking skin deep, and you most certainly will get nothing done if all you do is look at what others have accomplished; regardless of whether it was rightfully earned or not.

A friend once told me, in life always look at those worse off than you financially, to appreciate what you have. And look up to those higher up than you spiritually so that you may grow.

That rich kid’s life; while it may seem perfect, is devoid of meaning, as he gets everything he ever desires with zero effort. That lady who slept with her boss to get the job has a lot of baggage to carry, and will not be able to continue the charade for long.

People need to take more time out of their busy lives to count their own blessings.

They might not see it as such, but it is the best form of anti-depressant i have seen to date. It requires no prescription, or lengthily doctor visits, not to mention the piled on bills.

Best of all, it has no reported side effects to date!

Leave this cult, you have been in for so long. Trust me on this one, you are better off inspecting your own life, rather than nit-pick at others’.

No matter how hard you try, and how long you wait… At the end of the day, when you go home, and rest your head on that pillow, it is still just you. Envious, empty, and disappointed.

Nobody can change that, but you…