The Beauty of Simplicity...
The simplest things can leave a lasting impression on our lives. Anything from a smile, a person's beauty, their harsh or loving words and, particularly, a random act of kindness. I continue to review my photos from Kazan, and recently came across this image. I remember that my Russian travel companion in Kazan had a very emotional reaction when he encountered this note and lollipop, but two months after the journey I can't remember exactly why. I spoke to my Russian friend Alexey yesterday and he translated the note as follows: "This rabbit is 10 years old. He was brought from abroad but the child felt sorry for him and didn't eat him. And then the child grew up and brought him to the museum. Live eternally, brother!"
But why was the rabbit brought to the "Museum of the Socialist Way of Life" and from what country did he originate? Alexey laughed and told me the country of origin didn't matter. To the child, it represented much more than a sweet treat. Something entirely new and different, another world! In Alexey's words "as Soviet children, we didn't see such cute looking candies and the choice of toys was very scarce. The kid was so impressed by the rabbit that destroying him by the way of eating was too cruel for him." How could I possibly relate to this statement? In America, I've always had an abundant choice of candies, lollipops, really anything I wanted. Yet it doesn't mean that I can't understand how something simple can touch or alter someone's life, because I too have my own version of this lollipop, and it's pictured here:
A simple leaf, handed to me by the most innocent, smiling and beautiful little Mexican girl I've ever encountered. She gave it to me in a small village in Ixtapa, where my family traveled almost ten years ago. Most of them sat in the fancy resort, relaxing at the pool and beach for the entire week, but I wanted to venture away and see the locals. I found a driver who knew a family, living in a poor village close to the resort. At the sound of car wheels spinning down the dirt road, the young children and father ran out of the house, excited to see a visitor. They didn't speak English, but the dark-skinned girl's smile glowed in the reflection of the bright sun, and she handed me something from the ground. This leaf, as a welcome gift to her modest home. About a year later, I placed the leaf on a postcard I found, which is emblazoned with John Lennon's meaningful lyrics "Imagine all the people...sharing all the world." At that moment, I realized life is what you make it, that happiness for me has absolutely no correlation to riches or superficial things, but rather to simple human connections, travel and family.
Despite the frailty and tendency of brittle leaves to break apart, this one has remained solid through plane rides, and several office moves. The postcard and leaf have sat on the corkboard by my desk at three different law firms. A reminder of humility, of what's most important to me in life, and that the simplest actions or words can dramatically alter someone's life. For either good or bad, but hopefully the former...
Do you have a similar experience or item that you've kept for many years?