كنت قد كتبت عمن ينحصر عنه الضوء، وقلت إنه درس بغيض تقدّمه الحياة لكل من كان ذا منصب مرموق، وتخلّى عن كرسيه لأي سبب كان، وإن كان أهم أسباب التخلّي هو التقاعد.. هذه الفئة تصاب بصدمات حقيقية، فحين كان محط مهوى الأفئدة، والجميع يتسابق للحصول على رضاه، والكل يحفّه بالتهاني لأي مناسبة، والكل يتفانى لخدمته، والكل يواسيه لأي نائبة، والكل يتفاخر بأنه صديقه أو جاره أو أنه صديق تلك الشخصية المهمة.. وبعد التقاعد يجلس وحيداً (يهش الذباب)، ولا يتذكره إلا الأوفياء الذين يحملون له جميلاً أو وداً، أو تقديراً لما بذل من تفانٍ في خدمة الناس حين كان قادراً على فعل المعروف؛ خدمة للناس من غير ترفّع أو منّة.
التهميش ليس مقتصراً على المتقاعدين من ذوي المناصب العليا، فقد يأتي التهميش من خلال انحصار الاهتمام بأي شخصية مشهورة سواء كانت رياضية أو فنية أو اجتماعية.. وبين ليلة وضحاها ينفض الناس عنه، فيجد نفسه ريشة في هواء غير رحيم حين يطوح به في الفراغ، ولن يجد في ذلك الفراغ من يحنو على خفة تنقله أو يلحظ وجوده.
هذا الدرس البغيض لن يمر بمن هم تحت الأضواء الآن، سواء كان الضوء منصباً، أو شهرة، أو دوراً خدمياً، أو أي أمر يجعل للمرء أهمية. إن انحصار المسبب للاهتمام أو تلاشي ذلك المسبب يترك خلفه شخصيات لها إعجاز النخل الخاوية، وفي مثل أيام العيد وتبادل التهاني، تظهر أعجاز النخل الخاوية، ليس في ذاتها وإنما كونها فقدت جوهر اهتمام الناس بها، ولا يبقى في محيطهم إلا الأوفياء، كما أنه درس لمن هم ما زالوا تحت الأضواء، يكون درساً مهماً إذا تنبهوا بما صار عليه من سبقهم من رفعة، بتقاعدهم أطفئت عنهم الأضواء، وأشعلت في جهة أخرى، درس لا يتنبه له الغير أو من لم تعركه الدنيا، ولمثل هؤلاء عليهم الإصغاء لمن سبقهم في معترك الحياة، فكل قول من أفواههم هو حكمة، وكل نصيحة لم تخرج إلا بعد أن فركت صاحبها فركاً، هذا لمن اغتر، أما من تنبّه بأن الكراسي ما هي إلا مرجيحة يوم في العالي وبقية الأيام تتأرجح في مكان أدنى.
وجمال الحياة أن تكون مضيئاً أينما كنت سواء كنت في الأعالي أو في حفر الحياة العميقة.
كن في صدر المجلس بأي زمن كان، وهذا الوضع لا يصل إليه إلا من كان غنياً في ذاته من غير أي لوازم أخرى.
تابع قناة عكاظ على الواتساب
I had written about those from whom the light is withdrawn, and I said that it is a bitter lesson that life presents to anyone who held a prominent position and gave up their seat for any reason, with retirement being one of the most significant reasons for relinquishment. This group experiences real shocks; when they were the center of attention, everyone raced to gain their favor, everyone surrounded them with congratulations for any occasion, everyone dedicated themselves to serving them, everyone consoled them in times of trouble, and everyone boasted that they were their friend or neighbor, or that they were friends with that important figure. After retirement, they sit alone (swatting flies), and only the loyal ones who carry a favor or affection for them, or appreciation for their dedication to serving people when they were able to do good—serving people without arrogance or condescension—remember them.
Marginalization is not limited to retirees from high positions; it can also come from the waning interest in any famous personality, whether they are athletic, artistic, or social. Overnight, people turn away from them, and they find themselves like a feather in an unkind wind, tossed into emptiness, and in that void, they will find no one who cares for their lightness or notices their existence.
This bitter lesson will not pass by those who are currently in the spotlight, whether that light comes from a position, fame, a service role, or anything that gives a person importance. The narrowing of the cause of interest or the fading of that cause leaves behind personalities like the empty palm trees. During festive days and the exchange of congratulations, the empty palm trees appear, not in themselves but because they have lost the essence of people's interest in them, and only the loyal ones remain in their circle. It is also a lesson for those who are still in the spotlight; it is an important lesson if they become aware of what happened to those who preceded them in elevation, as with their retirement, the lights were extinguished for them and ignited elsewhere. It is a lesson that others may not notice or those who have not been tested by life. For such individuals, they should listen to those who came before them in the struggle of life, for every word from their mouths is wisdom, and every piece of advice comes only after they have been thoroughly tested. This is for those who were deceived; as for those who realized that chairs are merely swings—one day high and the rest of the days swaying in a lower place.
The beauty of life is to be a light wherever you are, whether you are in high places or in the deep pits of life.
Be at the forefront of the gathering at any time; this position can only be reached by those who are rich in themselves without any other necessities.
Marginalization is not limited to retirees from high positions; it can also come from the waning interest in any famous personality, whether they are athletic, artistic, or social. Overnight, people turn away from them, and they find themselves like a feather in an unkind wind, tossed into emptiness, and in that void, they will find no one who cares for their lightness or notices their existence.
This bitter lesson will not pass by those who are currently in the spotlight, whether that light comes from a position, fame, a service role, or anything that gives a person importance. The narrowing of the cause of interest or the fading of that cause leaves behind personalities like the empty palm trees. During festive days and the exchange of congratulations, the empty palm trees appear, not in themselves but because they have lost the essence of people's interest in them, and only the loyal ones remain in their circle. It is also a lesson for those who are still in the spotlight; it is an important lesson if they become aware of what happened to those who preceded them in elevation, as with their retirement, the lights were extinguished for them and ignited elsewhere. It is a lesson that others may not notice or those who have not been tested by life. For such individuals, they should listen to those who came before them in the struggle of life, for every word from their mouths is wisdom, and every piece of advice comes only after they have been thoroughly tested. This is for those who were deceived; as for those who realized that chairs are merely swings—one day high and the rest of the days swaying in a lower place.
The beauty of life is to be a light wherever you are, whether you are in high places or in the deep pits of life.
Be at the forefront of the gathering at any time; this position can only be reached by those who are rich in themselves without any other necessities.


