Problems

It feels like suddenly, I have a lot of things to say. That’s not true. I always have a lot of things to say, all the time. It’s just that my audience has diminished in numbers.

People tell me their problems all the time. Most of the time I just listen. Sometimes I give advice, but I find that more often than not, people don’t want advice, they just want to vent to a sympathetic ear. More often than not I distract them with a joke or something silly to make them feel happier, even if it’s just for a while.

I have problems, too. And sometimes I too wish to vent. But then I’m told that I act as if I’m the only one with problems in the world. Wow. I know everyone has problems. I know some problems are bigger than others. I know there is suffering, disease, pain in the world. I know. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have problems or frustrations. That doesn’t mean I can’t voice out those problems or frustrations. I’m not asking for a solution to my problems. Some problems cannot be solved.

Sometimes I, too, just want a sympathetic ear. Or someone to tell me a joke or something silly to make me laugh and forget my problems for a while.  It’s really not too much to ask. Especially of a friend. Or at least, of someone I used to consider my friend.