Speed wasn’t something she liked. Berru preferred smoother transitions, calm movements. She enjoyed taking in the air and the scent of wherever she was. Absorbing everything as it was and then slowly trying to understand it brought her joy. People, movements, glances, conversations, laughter, and their hidden details… In a life where everything rushed by, slowing down and observing gave her pleasure.
Going for a walk, sitting on a bench, or stepping out onto the terrace at work to look at the sky made her happy. Understanding the meaning behind words spoken in a single breath required listening slowly. Grasping the essence behind hurried gestures required seeing beyond them. To see what you’re looking at, to hear what you’re listening to, to feel what you’re tasting, you had to slow down. That’s how it was; like a small tree or a little shrub. She would observe while everything else was swept away.
As she thought about these things, she rested her head against the window. But she couldn’t get comfortable, as the rapid vibration of the window made her pull her head back. She folded her sweater and placed it between her head and the window. She crossed her legs and turned slightly to the side. She was on a train, and the carriage was full. Looking outside and distancing herself from the crowded carriage made her feel better. What she saw reflected in the window was a smile. Right across from her was a pair of eyes looking back at her with a smile. A pair of lips, yet to speak, but ready for conversation, were covered in pink lipstick. She was pretty and sweet. If she raised her head and turned toward her, the conversation would begin. Berru hesitated. She could close her eyes and try to sleep, or she could respond to the interest with interest. She was tired and sad, but she didn’t want to upset the woman. She managed a smile through the window’s reflection. The elderly woman, sitting across from her, smiled warmly back.
They were seated in the section of the train with tables in the middle of the carriage—four seats facing each other with a table in between. Berru adjusted her sweater again and sat up a little straighter in her seat. She greeted the elderly woman, and just as she had expected, the woman was ready to take this as an opportunity.
“I know you,” she said.
Berru felt like saying, “Really? From where?” but she kept it to herself.
“You may not believe me, but I do know you. People actually reveal themselves. The things they keep inside are reflected on their faces, their hands, their shoulders, their arms, even their capillaries.”
Yes, the elderly woman was right; Berru had read similar things before. But she didn’t feel like undergoing a character analysis right now. She pursed her lips a bit. After all, no one is ever really ready to hear criticism from a stranger.
“I won’t say anything you don’t want to hear, my dear. If you don’t want to listen, I won’t speak either. But maybe just one sentence from a lifetime of experiences could do you some good.”
She really didn’t like sweet-talking aunties. And they always seemed to find her.
“You seem like a girl who misses her mother,” she said.
A lump caught in Berru’s throat. No matter how hard she tried to hide it, it was obvious that she was struggling to swallow.
“I won’t ask you any questions; you can share if you want, and know that I will listen without judgment. I have time. If you feel like talking, that is. Just know this: Whatever is making you sad now, know that it will pass. Whatever makes you happy, know that it will also pass. I’ve had a long life. Unfortunately, I couldn’t understand or learn from every moment I lived, and because of that, I stumbled many times and made the same mistakes over and over.
But later, I realized that time flows faster than this train we’re on. When you learn by trial and error, you can get very worn out. Sometimes you lose hope. But we don’t realize that all of this—all the problems and all the solutions—has already been explained. And not just explained, but shown to us every day, every moment, through flowers and insects, through the soil, through water, over and over again. The saddest part is that without the transfer of experience, we don’t realize that life has laid everything out before us, and yet we fail to comprehend it.
You are very young; when faced with difficulties, people tend to blame the outside world. Because of this, they often can’t see their real problems. They fail to understand the messages that life is trying to convey through each event. Every experience is valuable, my dear. Value both your problems and their solutions. Give them your awareness. It’s more important than finishing your work or your project, believe that. Try to listen to what everything around you is telling you.
Let me give you a secret to staying young. It’s not age but repeated problems that wear a person down. And no filler or Botox can make up for that kind of aging, my dear,” she said, bursting into laughter.
Not wanting to leave the elderly woman’s laughter hanging, Berru smiled back out of courtesy.
“Yes, you’re probably right, that could be.”
Her words weren’t all that sincere, but she still took note of what was said. Especially the thoughts about the messages from nature and the importance of shared experiences. She had just started to worry about where this conversation was going when the train pulled into a station. The elderly woman wished Berru and the other passengers a pleasant journey and got off the train.
Taking the opportunity, Berru pulled out her phone and began browsing the internet. But this time, she didn’t feel much interest. She went back to watching the fields, meadows, and little pine groves through the train window. She decided to continue her journey with the words of the elderly travel companion she had initially wanted to escape from. She began to ponder what the woman had said. “Everything is temporary,” she had said. And that thought comforted her greatly.
A new journey had begun for Berru. A journey of learning from experiences... And though she didn’t realize it yet, she would soon come to understand. This kind of journey was much longer and much more enjoyable than a simple train ride...
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Experiential Design Teachings and Decision-Making Themed Blog
Experiential Design Teachings aim to give purpose to a person's life.
To be happy and successful in life...
"Since the existence of humankind on Earth, the greatest friend and foe have never changed. The person in the mirror..."
Yahya Hamurcu
Who’s Who? The Art of Understanding People
Mastery in Relationships
The Psychology of Success
Mastery in Avoidance
Designer (Strategy Design)
Experiential Design Teachings aim to give purpose to a person's life.To be happy and successful in life..."Since the existence of humankind on Earth, the greatest friend and foe have never changed. The person in the mirror..."
Yahya Hamurcu
Who’s Who? The Art of Understanding People
Mastery in Relationships
The Psychology of Success
Mastery in Avoidance
Designer (Strategy Design)
A journey of learning from experiences... Thanks! :)
YanıtlaSilThank you so much 💐
YanıtlaSilThere are really no coincidences in life. Everything we encounter gives a message. When we accept the impermanence, even though it is difficult, in this journey that feels fast for us, we begin to evaluate the messages, gain experience, and become better than yesterday. We try to do justice to what has been given to us.