Some people just received the worst news of their life. Others just had a baby. Some are watching Netflix in bed, some may be peacefully meditating while others are getting into car accidents or fighting for their freedom. Right now. As you read this. Miley Cyrus is living and breathing somewhere, doing whatever she does. Adam Sandler, Harry Styles, Monks, Criminals. What are they all doing in this very moment? There is a zookeeper feeding a giraffe, a grandma sewing, two people going on their first date and a pilot flying a plane (full of other simultaneous stories too). Right now. Call it Main Character Syndrome, but I think most of us forget that it’s not just our stories happening. Instead, its 7 billion. Simultaneously.
One day I was in the backseat of my friends jeep, on my way to a small town party with 3 of my best friends. Now, you can imagine what a girls car sounds like on a typical Friday Night. The loudest, most classic sing-along songs that have the highest of energy, just on repeat, and only being lowered when someone is suggesting a new - and equally as exciting song. Everyone pretending they can sing well, on the top of their lungs of course, probably imagining their own music video. Lip gloss and shots are being passed around with Gatorade chasers and of course a whole lot of selfie taking too. Meanwhile here I was, staring out the window, seeing nothing but fast car lights passing me down the highway. Tuning everything out. At some point I was in complete silence -somehow, just existing inside my own world - while living right next to my friends.
I had this undistinguishable ping of anxiety lingering inside of me -and while some may say it was pre party jitters, I knew it was very different, larger. In the midst of taking a few deep breaths to calm myself down, I closed my eyes.
I closed my eyes and found myself in a vast amount of lives. I visited so many countries, places, scenes, people for what feels like forever- and in reality was 60 seconds. I saw women and men praying, kids jumping into the ocean. There was a girl reading in her bed while another was fighting for her life. I went to a concert. I was in the mountains. I was in a rich house and a poor house. I saw so many celebrations and so many losses. Simultaneously.
I was in the beginning of my spiritual journey and was just beginning to brush up on the reality that we are all one. Every soul you meet eyes with - is you. That must be why they say treat everyone how you’d like to be treated. I remember tawing with that idea back in elementary school. In my classroom there were posters and banners hung all around the perimeter and that one always caught my attention. In big rainbow letters “Treat Others How You’d Like to be Treated”! Do you treat everyone how you want to be treated, so you get that same respect back? Do we do that just so people are kinder in general, or is it literal? Treat people how you want to be treated because…. they are you.
I didnt know if these visions I just experienced or stories I intruded on, were of me in my past lives, future lives, or just beings who were breathing somewhere other than where I am? I was feeling all of their emotions, almost as deep as they were themselves for a second. So many highs, a lot of confusion, and too much fear. Was I supposed to be happy for the happy ones, or sad for the sad ones.. or just be here.. with them?
It makes you feel so small, so unimportant. In our everyday lives, we are shamelessly the main character. Every problem is huge, every heartbreak is “the worst one”, and every good moment seems to stop time. But they’re not, and they wont. The world is vaster than we believe, more so than we can comprehend. Close your eyes and feel the stories of millions of other individuals. It’s humbling and beautiful, but scary.
And then my eyes opened. The music loudened, and cheers poured as we arrived at this party. My story continues, and sometimes I wonder if anyone is thinking of my story, as I do theirs. Somewhere.