Lessons (And Brackets)

The rest of the Time Out (as I've dubbed it) went by like a breeze as I got busy with the many odd bits and pieces I've put off from doing. I filed my tax return, cleaned out the fish tank full of comatose fishes, and even alphabetised my DVD collection (I'm anally retentive that way).

Later in the day, I finally got myself to get out of the house and headed out to the local Starbucks to get my fix of the franchised and bastardised version of the caffeine brew. I'm currently hooked on the "limited edition" double mocha macchiato (just for you, Sebastiane). I like coffee with my sugar.

Knowing that I was chilling for a few days, one of my brother's friends messaged me to kick it with them for a few hours at their place, so I headed out their way. My little brother moved out almost a year ago and he, along with his partner and friend, have been living it up on their own. I find their living arrangement interesting (and a little desiring). Theirs is a tight group, welcoming and laid back. And although there is the odd tension here and there with regards to domestic responsibilities, overall they seem to have things sorted.

This would have been about my fourth time over despite the fact that it's been months since they've moved in. That's not as bad as you might think considering I didn't think I'd ever visit at all. You see, not long ago, my brother and I had a terrible falling out and we didn't speak for a long time. On top of that, I vowed never to befriend his partner ever again.

But how times have changed... and how it's softened hearts. The grudge I held for the two of them is now gone and things couldn't be better.

"I saw M the other night at a party," my brother said of a friend he himself hadn't spoken to in years (they almost got into a punch-up).

"Yeah? Was there tension?"

"No. We were fine actually. Had a chat and even laughed."

"That's good."

"And you know why that happened?," asked his partner out loud.

"Nope. Why?"

"It's something he learnt from you..."

"I didn't want to keep holding on a grudge," my brother answered.

"So, you let it go?"

"Yep, let it go."

"Good for you."

I've come to realise that sometimes we need a little bit of tension and drama in our lives (a catalysmic event even) in order for certain things to change and move on to the next level. Sure, sometimes this might not result in anything ideal, and sometimes things mightn't even change at all, but once in a while, when good intentions win out, it can actually lead to something better and rewarding.

That's a lesson I'm learning to recognise in many forms and evidently, a lesson that keeps on teaching.

(End)