University of Life: Trust

I'd like to share a story of my life. The last 2 days, I bought a sugar glider. The one that looks like a hamster, but is actually not. It is not a species of rodents. And plus, it is not stinky. Sugar glider is a kind of marsupials that live in the wild, but mostly does not live long because its only defensive mechanism is its sound. It has no teeth or claws that can even give slight pain sensation upon my skin. But, under good human care, its life may extend from approximately 5 years in the wild to 10-15 years.

The only reason I bought this sugar glider was because its kinds are so friendly that they will hang around their carers and mix up with people while loyal to one person that it likes the most. When I got my own sugar glider, it was so young that it was taken away from its family. It was quite aggressive at first seeing big hands touching its fur and hands and head, and tail. It was very scared. Started being a carer of this lovely little female sugar glider, I started searching on the net on how to take care of this little baby. The first and second day, it was quite aggressive towards anyone who tried to become closer to it including me myself. It made a sound that always shock whoever wanted to make a contact with it. Repeatedly, you will always feel shocked whenever you try to touch it even though it can never harm you. I read on a website made specifically for carers of sugar gliders and it says never be afraid when the baby make that scary sound because if you are scared, it will feel more scared!

So I followed what was said, kept it out of the cage, put it in my hands, rubbed its back, head, and tail, and yah my brother and my mother try to touch it and it made the sound while it didn't make any when I put my hand in its house. I was feeling so happy that it didn't make any sound! Because that sound usually means "I'm scared! Don't come any closer!" So, I stumbled across the idea of "Trust".

Trust is not as easy to be built as friendship. The foundation of Trust itself is too much complicated that ones cannot expect that once he was said to be trusted by another, he will be trusted forever. Nope! Trust cannot be built by words themselves or by actions only. But in fact, time is the main factor. Yup, definitely I want to say "Experience". Likes my baby sugar glider.. :)

Could you imagine what your life would be if you do not trust anybody and nobody trusted you?

It is unfortunate that the world that we live in today has become filled with situations where we cannot afford to trust everyone because some people may take advantage. Children have to be taught not to trust strangers for the fear of what may happen. People can become conditioned not to trust politicians and many are wary of media. Trust might be our birthright, but the abuse of the power that trust gives people means that very frequent the automatic trust level that we are born with can become something that we are very wary to give. And not trusting affects the way people trust or mistrust us.

A relationship is built on the keystone of Trust. I am truly sorry for myself that I cannot befriend with all people that I met. I am sorry for myself that I cannot start a conversation with all new people that I met before. As I reminisced that all my best friends were someone that 'Hi' me first, I felt sorry for myself that I was hardly say 'Hi' first to my friends. I am sorry that the friendship that I built for myself is solely based on the foundation of experience. I felt moved that my primary school friends can still even remember me.

ps: It's true that a friend whom I am closest to is the friend who spends a lot of time with me and regards me as his closest friend. Am I being too judgemental? Erm..I guess it is just being me.. Already missing the experience with my only friend who likes to lean his head onto my shoulder. T_T

Allah said in the Holy Quran (Ali Imran 3:118) :

"O you who have believed, do not take as intimates (trustee) those other than within yourselves, for they will not spare you any ruin. They wish you would have hardship. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, and what their hearts conceal is greater. We have certainly made clear to you the signs, if you have wisdom."