As I was reading an aged Newsweek magazine, I came across an article about Eliot Spitzer. Spitzer became the headlining story throughout America in March of 2008 as the disgraced New York governor who had hired a prostitute. As I looked at the photo in the magazine of Spitzer walking down a busy New York street, I thought to myself, "how could such an innocent looking man get involved in a sex scandal?" Well, he did even though the entire state of New York looked up to him for political guidance and protection. Ashamed and humiliated, Spitzer had nothing to fall back on. He had soiled his name and his political career and was in danger of losing his wife of 20 years and the trust of his children.
The media frenzy that surrounded Spitzer when his illicit sex life came under public scrutiny helped Spitzer turn around his life. Fortunately for Spitzer, his family was there to support him. Instead of leaving her spouse, Silda Spitzer realized that a husband and wife need each other most when the pain and the shock is at its worst. In the scandal's aftermath, Spitzer remarked "One of the hardest things to accept is that we are replaceable."
Why is it that we only appreciate something when it's gone or when the potential for loss is at its greatest? Why do we need to experience a traumatic and humiliating wake up call to realize that we already have what we need to survive, to live, and to be happy? Humans are extremely hardheaded and stubborn creatures. We always need to learn things "the hard way," through experience and bitter struggles. Due to our capability of consistently relying on reason over instinct, our intellectual capacity is above those of all other creatures of this earth. Yet, we often ignore our common sense and give into barbaric temptations. We, as humans, often place ourselves on a pedestal of greatness. We are convinced that we morally and intellectually superior than other species, but oftentimes, we fail to uphold that standard and fall prey to savage tendencies and barbaric behavior. We need to live up to that moral standard that we have given ourselves. By doing so, we will learn to appreciate what we already have before it's gone.
By three methods we may gain wisdom:
Through reflection, which is noblest;
Through imitation, which is easiest;
And through experience, which is bitterest.
- Confucius -
