Living in harmony with oneself and others

As I was returning home after my usual morning routine errand to buy some bread―cheaper now, albeit smaller, poorer in quality, and not always available on time―I stumbled upon an old friend and neighbor who always exercises at that time.

I gave him an affectionate ‘How are you’, and he replied, “Hi, gorgeous!” without stopping, and I smiled at the compliment, because I am well aware of the exaggeration of the adjective, but he made me think once again how pleasant it is that people treat others other well and cordially, whether they know each other or not.

We Cubans may be fed up with endless problems, and I know we can’t just detach from them while coping with so many difficulties, but a nice day, a smiling greeting face, and a permanent attachment to good manners become incentives for givers and takers alike.

With the perennial U.S. blockade stuck to every Cuban’s skin regardless of age or sex, our daily struggle resembles trench warfare as we strive to overcome both the shortages imposed by the economic crisis that the country is suffering and their impact on our spirit.

It is worth remembering then that social norms remain in force, not by imposition but as a responsible form of coexistence and respect for and among everyone.

You might have had it up to here with so many problems, but reason must prevail, for nothing justifies that people take it out on neighbors who are not to blame for their plight.

Family, neighbors, friends and co-workers provide ideal environments to share and, why not, even blow off so much accumulated steam while we go about our daily life, since our current situation should not stop our workplaces, schools and main production activities from going on so that we can alleviate the foreign currency deficit and replace imports to give our economy the heart to carry on.

With so much against them, some men and women, 80% of whom have lived under Washington's criminal siege of Cuba, tend to have a bad temper and show it left and right, minding no one around them.

As we are trying to coexist with some degree of normality, it is important to remember how good it is to be polite, say thanks, help others, and look as far as the eye can see to try and find some hope.

We must imitate good deeds and banish individualism and mistreatment. Lending a hand and share what little we have always ennobles and elevates the spirit. We cannot make any room for the insensitive while other colleagues proclaim as one that that insensitivity corrodes and make calls to cultivate the best attitudes and behaviors.

In a recent edition of Radio Rebelde's program Hablando Claro, its regular participants talked about social indiscipline and pointed out that there are broken, twisted beings among them that must be brought back to the right path at once.

We cannot just stand there in the face of crime; instead, we must fight it with resolve.

Everyone must do their bit in this crusade for respect of the rights of others and for a proper behavior. On my end, I will keep saying good morning even if I only get silence in response, and I will try to make my personal harmony contagious, and I know I am not alone in this endeavor, which makes me happy and inspires me.