What did the old man in Kabati mean when he said, "We must strive to be like the moon"? Is this advice that could apply to you? Why or why not?

I thought it was Beah's grandmother that said this. Ishmael was curious as to the meaning of the saying, and his grandmother explained that when the sun shines, people complain about the heat, but when it's cold or rainy they want the sun. On the other hand, no one ever complains about the shining of the moon.

Ishmael remembers this saying because once he understood what his grandmother told him, he began observing the moon, and even as an adult he continues to make those observations. I do not always appreciate the positives in life and sometimes fixate on the negatives. I think, however, that your last question really pertains to you.