The Beauty of Simplicity
In this materialistic day and age, expressions of love often occur in the form of lavish gifts and extravagant surprises. "What fancy restaurant could I bring my date to?" "What cellphone model will I get for passing my math course?" "What car will my parents get for my next birthday?" This are the questions that normally form in people's minds today. But are these queries indeed important in life?
On Monday, right after the elections, my Namfrel team of 7 people (Aldy, Archie, Barwin, Clare, Edward, Mae, and I) patiently poll-watched and waited for a measly 15 election returns until 4 in the morning the next day. Their reward: one lousy meal of adobo, cold rice, and a bottle of mineral water. Despite the lack of motivation, however, they stayed on by my side until the job was done.
On the same day (actually the same night), while my team and I were fighting with certain stubborn teachers who just wouldn't hand over an election return that rightfully belonged to Namfrel, my dad came to our rescue and proudly proclaimed to a room full of hot-headed canvassers that I was his son and that those idiotic people had no right to keep my team and I waiting because we were volunteers and we had a job to do.
A few hours later, upon arriving at school, I received three absolutely unexpected "tokens": a notebook from Isay, a note from Mae, and Hello Panda from Sabs. Even later that day, I would receive a "HUG" from a student. (A project started by the unbeatable tandem of Allan and Edward)
Today, just hours ago, at Uri's appreciation day surprise, the "celebrant" thanked me for being his friend.
And, before this day had ended, while having my car washed and just when i had thought nothing else meaningful could possibly happen, another friend texted me, "ei...thanks for being a gud friend."
As a person so caught up in this fast-paced, money-worshipping world, rarely do I get to appreciate the little things people do for me... Often times, like most people, I end up waiting for lavish gifts and extravagant surprises as signs of knowing whether I truly am loved and appreciated...
And maybe this is a problem which our world too is facing. We keep saying there's something wrong with the world. That universal systems need to be overhauled in order to make a difference. When in actuality, no such single-world-changing solution exists. It's the little things men do that actually make this world a better place.
The beauty of simplicity is that it's exactly that: SIMPLE. It doesn't crave attention or fame, power or money, payback or that certain "something-in-return." And just like that amazing thing called Love, normally unseen and insignificant as it may seem, simplicity has the power to do great deeds and change the world.
We don't need large signs of love and appreciation in the world. What we really need are the simple, unnoticeable acts of kindness. Without looking at the simple things, great acts merely become historical facts waiting to be forgotten.
The beauty of simplicity is amazing. I'm glad i've learned how to detect it before it was too late.
On Monday, right after the elections, my Namfrel team of 7 people (Aldy, Archie, Barwin, Clare, Edward, Mae, and I) patiently poll-watched and waited for a measly 15 election returns until 4 in the morning the next day. Their reward: one lousy meal of adobo, cold rice, and a bottle of mineral water. Despite the lack of motivation, however, they stayed on by my side until the job was done.
On the same day (actually the same night), while my team and I were fighting with certain stubborn teachers who just wouldn't hand over an election return that rightfully belonged to Namfrel, my dad came to our rescue and proudly proclaimed to a room full of hot-headed canvassers that I was his son and that those idiotic people had no right to keep my team and I waiting because we were volunteers and we had a job to do.
A few hours later, upon arriving at school, I received three absolutely unexpected "tokens": a notebook from Isay, a note from Mae, and Hello Panda from Sabs. Even later that day, I would receive a "HUG" from a student. (A project started by the unbeatable tandem of Allan and Edward)
Today, just hours ago, at Uri's appreciation day surprise, the "celebrant" thanked me for being his friend.
And, before this day had ended, while having my car washed and just when i had thought nothing else meaningful could possibly happen, another friend texted me, "ei...thanks for being a gud friend."
As a person so caught up in this fast-paced, money-worshipping world, rarely do I get to appreciate the little things people do for me... Often times, like most people, I end up waiting for lavish gifts and extravagant surprises as signs of knowing whether I truly am loved and appreciated...
And maybe this is a problem which our world too is facing. We keep saying there's something wrong with the world. That universal systems need to be overhauled in order to make a difference. When in actuality, no such single-world-changing solution exists. It's the little things men do that actually make this world a better place.
The beauty of simplicity is that it's exactly that: SIMPLE. It doesn't crave attention or fame, power or money, payback or that certain "something-in-return." And just like that amazing thing called Love, normally unseen and insignificant as it may seem, simplicity has the power to do great deeds and change the world.
We don't need large signs of love and appreciation in the world. What we really need are the simple, unnoticeable acts of kindness. Without looking at the simple things, great acts merely become historical facts waiting to be forgotten.
The beauty of simplicity is amazing. I'm glad i've learned how to detect it before it was too late.