Hidden Chapters

By: Niesa

“The loneliest people are the kindest. The saddest people smile the brightest. The most damaged people are the wisest.”

Some might say, why would someone who is in such sorrow, smile the brightest instead of looking sad? How is it that a lonely person is the kindest? To some people, this will come off as something unusual to them. However, there are reasons for their acts. One of them is that when they smile instead of frowning, it is a way of them fighting against the depressing stuff.

The above quote tells the story of people who had gone through so much and feel so much pain from it. Because they know how hurtful it is, they choose to spread kindness and love instead of the opposite, even when it is hard. They understand the pain much better than others. That is why when they see someone who needs help or comfort, they will offer a helping hand and guide them to a better path. Because they know the pain of not being understood and the struggle during those times. They will rather suffer the pain alone than letting others go through the same thing. Instead of being defeated by the harshness of life, they choose to embrace the good side of it. They look at the lessons they can learn and share them with others to spare them from those painful experiences.

And those are their hidden chapters.

“The prettiest smiles hide the deepest secrets. The prettiest eyes cry the most tears. The kindest hearts have felt the most pain.”

Every one of us went through different lives and we all have things in it that we will gladly share with others, while there are also things that we will rather keep to ourselves. We experience various things and meet various sorts of people and learn so much things regarding this world. However, as much as there are joyful things, heart-breaking and painful stuff also come with it.

As time goes by and we mature through the increase of age and experiences, various things that we never understood before are now clearer. We go through those phases of life and along the way, we understand more complex emotions that we never even know their existence before. The beauty of life, nothing is all black and white. What we perceive is not all there is to it. For example, what we think is easy to learn, for others it might be a hard thing to digest. It is what we call perspective. That is why consideration is a trait that should be nurtured in our hearts for a better and harmonized society.

We still have a long way to go in our life, if Allah wills. So much knowledge and new things are waiting for us to venture in. Along the way, it is not all rainbows and sparkles. Rain and thorns will somehow be in our quest but just like in the quote above, learn from it and do not succumb to the dark side. With these rains and thorns, we can gain more experiences that cannot be obtained from books or classrooms. All these quests are tests from Allah SWT and these tests are granted to those who are loved and cherished by Him. And, after all those obstacles we went through, wouldn’t the victory taste even sweeter?

However, throughout the journey, there will be times when we feel like we had enough. We will feel like we had lost our way. What should we do then? Face those feelings. Yes, braving through all those challenges is an admirable act but we should not be too hard on ourselves. We can cry if we want but after that, pick ourselves up and face them with a braver heart. If we ever feel weak, seek help and support from others. Friends, families or even professional help. If they can help us somehow, then we should accept that kindness. Looking for a helping hand is not a shameful thing to do, rather it is encouraged. And most of all, seek guidance from Him. Only then will you have a calmer heart and not lose your way.

Everyone might have a hidden chapter sooner or later and it is a normal phase of life. Whether we want to open the chapters or keep it closed in our hearts, the choice is up to us. I just wish that one day, we will all find a special person that will share that chapter with us and show us that despite all that, everything is going to be fine and they are here for us.

*This awesome article has been shared in the author's Instagram account: @_anisasalleh_