Listening to Myself O Istanbul

Orhan Veli, one of our great poets, says "I am listening to Istanbul today" in one of his poems. I am also listening to myself today; I am writing these lines in a naive, slightly cloudy, slightly sad morning environment. I want to reflect everything about human beings and myself in every line I write! I don't want to tell you about the streets I live in, the roads I travel, my joys, my sorrows and similar topics today. 

I am just listening to myself and living in the present moment. Maybe it is not valid for people living in villages, but I believe that people living in cities and leading a high-paced life due to work intensity are living under a great danger. Especially our people who live a rush against time and have to work 5 or 6 days a week are unfortunately the subjects of this danger. Working hard and leading a busy life is of course much better than being unemployed. However, the real issue is what I am trying to call the 'danger' of not having time to listen to oneself, to rest, because of the burden that the intensity of work, which has become natural for all of us, puts on people. 

Especially if one's time is limited and one does not have pursuits or hobbies to enjoy, over time, this person will run out of energy, perhaps resent life, wear out quickly and become stagnant. Perhaps this person will also rapidly distance himself/herself and his/her environment. A person who is tired, weary and does not listen enough will not be able to fully devote himself to his work. In his social and communal life, he will be deprived of a friend, companion and spouse, which is very necessary for his soul, as he will not have the time to develop correct and meaningful relationships. Therefore, he will be condemned to live alone, sullen and sullen because he is depressed, wasting a lifetime because of what he cannot and will not do rather than what he has done, and leaving this world 'without living'. 

Work is the most sacred way of earning the bread we need for our life cycle. But how much bread do we need, how much is enough for a dignified life? Isn't there some rest in what is called work? Can there be a form of work without rest? 

A person will definitely work, but he/she will also know how to rest and take a break. If an employee is on the payroll, they will try to find a middle ground with their employer to improve their working conditions in this direction. If necessary, he/she will fight in an organized struggle, but he/she will also strive to achieve an environment where he/she can work in order to live humanely. The bottom line is that the busier and harder a person works, the more time they need to rest. Whether we have our own business or work for someone else, we must find a way to rest. This is a responsibility we all have towards ourselves in order to live life without missing a beat and to live a healthy life.

In Turkish society, for some reason, there are some false teachings and misperceptions that are accepted. The perception that permeates the codes of a society has been created as if 'working without resting' is a good thing. Sacrifice while working is considered sacred by us. The more time he or she devotes to his or her work, the more time he or she spends working overtime, even on weekends, that person is seen as the most acceptable person. This is true even if it is the employer. The employee is expected to work in this way in the first place. 

However, everyone knows that if a person cannot muster the strength and energy, he or she has to go to work the next day tired. If this happens again and again, a state of chronic fatigue develops. The person starts to feel cold even to live, let alone to work. 

If a person knows how to rest a little, he or she will see that much will change in his or her life. What is called rest is divided into two, active and passive. Passive rest is a kind of laziness and people need to be lazy from time to time. Lying down, sleeping and idleness without doing anything is necessary for our physical and mental health. It is necessary to take passive rests without overdoing it. Active rest, on the other hand, are hobby-like habits that have some goals and encourage people to move, research and have fun. Different pursuits are also relaxing. For example, doing sports, traveling, practicing dance, researching, reading, tying up loose ends, learning something new, going to the movies, watching a play in the theater, etc., doing cultural activities, playing mind-building games such as chess or checkers with a friend. In addition, retreating for reflection, taking a few days away from the working environment is also a form of active rest and is an absolute necessity for every employee. 

It is equally important to get away from people, to be alone with oneself. But some people are deathly afraid of being alone. And on their tongues, words like: "Solitude is only for Allah!". Others avoid people and prefer to be alone with themselves. Every person is different. Introversion or extroversion is a trait of temperament and is unique to the individual. But it is not desirable for people to withdraw into themselves to avoid problems. People with such tendencies begin to fall under the domain of psychiatrists. Withdrawal is not rest. 

The fact that modern life takes people away from nature and naturalness is a separate and deep issue that needs to be solved for city dwellers who have to live in stone-stacked apartment buildings. Environmental factors are the key to a good life. A peaceful resting environment can be established where environmental conditions are good. Nevertheless, one should still find a way to turn to nature at every opportunity. 

In the meantime, one should find a way to remain natural as well as to turn towards nature. Being one's own person, living a life at peace with oneself, is the greatest personal wealth in this life. There is nothing more beautiful in life. We don't have to make anyone happy in the course of this life. Taking time for ourselves for a calm, peaceful and happy life, trying to make ourselves happy before others, is the greatest favor we can do to ourselves. If we are good, we benefit those around us. If we are happy, we spread happiness around us. If we are depressed, we make those around us nervous. We make life miserable for them too. Is that necessary? 

Going back to what I said at the beginning of my article, we should definitely succeed in 'resting' without suffocating ourselves in the hustle and bustle of modern life. If we don't know how to rest, let's know that we can learn it. If we listen to ourselves a little bit, we will immediately see that we naturally need rest. As long as we see it as a need, we accept it. Developing a consciousness that is free from worries such as "without me, this work would fail, my business would fail, the boss would get angry" is the biggest gain and the biggest favor that people in modern life can do for themselves.

Mega city Istanbul... Don't swallow us, we are listening to you. Just like Orhan Veli's lines.

Listening to Istanbul

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed

First a gentle breeze blows;

Slowly swaying

The leaves, the trees;

Far away, far away,

The never-ending rattle of the watermen

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed;

Birds are passing by;

From high above, flocks and flocks, screaming.

Nets are being pulled in the dives;

A woman's feet touching the water;

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed;

The cool, cool Grand Bazaar

Vibrant Mahmutpasa

Pigeon-filled courtyards

Hammer sounds coming from the docks

The smell of sweat in the beautiful spring wind;

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.                   

I'm listening to Istanbul, my eyes closed;

The intoxication of old orgies on my head

A mansion with its dim boathouses;

In the roar of the lulling lodos

I listen to Istanbul, my eyes closed.                    

I'm listening to Istanbul, my eyes closed;

A slut passes by on the sidewalk;

Swearing, singing, singing, throwing words.

Something falls from her hand to the ground;

It must be a rose;

I'm listening to Istanbul, my eyes closed.                  

I'm listening to Istanbul, my eyes closed;

A bird flutters on your skirts;

I know if your forehead is warm or not;

I know if your lips are wet or not;

A white moon rises from behind the pistachios

I can tell by the beating of your heart;

I'm listening to Istanbul.