What has life given us?

     Every day we live, every day we observe life, and we can't help but wonder, what has life given us?

    The weather is gradually warming up; we know the cold winter is over and warm spring has arrived. The wind, once biting, has become comforting. Sunlight spills onto the hillsides, into the square, and into the rooms of sleepy people. A woman in her forties or fifties carries a load of vegetables. She pauses, supporting the load with her left hand and unbuttoning her clothes with her right. What has life given her? Life has given her a mission.

    A young man in his twenties, dressed impeccably, wanders aimlessly down the street, utterly bored. What has life given him? Life has given him boredom, and he simply indulges in it.

    A stylishly dressed middle-aged woman walks down the street, her figure clattering with every step. Her curvaceous body allures every man. What has life given her? Life has given her resources, and she simply squanders them.

    In the square, an elderly man walks with faltering steps, enjoying the sunshine, enjoying his helplessness. What has life given them? Life has given them aging faces. They lamented the cruelty of time, but what good did it do?

    A girl of twelve or thirteen, carrying a rectangular stool on her right shoulder and a plastic chair on her left, stood at the shop entrance, forced by life to shine shoes. I followed her gaze and saw an advertisement: "Waitress Wanted." I glanced at her several times; she looked at me too. She hesitated for a moment, then went into the restaurant. I squatted at the entrance; the restaurant belonged to my classmate's family. Later, I saw her come out, carrying the stools and chairs, gradually disappearing from sight. I had wanted to go in and investigate, and perhaps put in a good word for her so she could get the job. But I hesitated and didn't act. What had life given her? Life had given her trials, and she refused to accept it.

    A man in his twenties, wearing a suit that looked like it hadn't been washed in a long time, was stealing money with tweezers. I noticed and said "Oh," and the thief, startled, immediately withdrew his hand, but still managed to grab the money. He then quickly fled into the crowd. What had life given him? Life had presented him with what seemed like a dead end, and he had walked down it without a second thought.