Simple
It’s a typical school day. Not much fuss about school projects and boring assignments in subjects such as Physics, Analytic Geometry, or Mathematics.
Around eight thirty in the morning, the time in between subjects Physics and Filipino, I tried to go near the window to view the school’s ‘backyard’ (we are on the second floor of the L-shaped building so it’s somewhat understandable that I had a view from above). I still remember the range of vehicles; cars, pick-up trucks, SUVs, AUVs, from these expensive cars (I think are family vehicles because parents would drive their children to school) to jeepneys, FXs, and Elf trucks that serve as school service buses for children who can’t afford to buy their own vehicles (maybe the school’s location is not along the way to the workplace of parents, that’s why some parents let their children ride school buses).
Somewhat contrast to the view I elaborated earlier, I saw growing four feet tall grass along the side of the building. It was covering a large part of the ‘backyard,’ making parking a big pain in the neck for vehicle drivers. That’s why three or four months before that day, these grasses were trimmed down and burned. At first, I didn’t care about these grasses and I felt no remorse when they brought the grasses down.
But that was then. The grasses were growing back, like hair in a young man’s head two months after skinning his head bald. At that moment, in that day, that bright and windy day, the grasses swayed and moved rhythmically like dancers who have their own song to move to. While swaying and making a continuous rustling sound, the dewdrops scattered on the face of each leaf reflected the sunlight. Thus, attractive rainbow colors were produced, somewhat inviting, beckoning me to be with them. Together with the sound and visual pleasure I experienced, the moment was embossed in my mind till this present day.
Then, the sound of the bell, the sound of the engines and honking of the vehicles, brought me back to reality. Then, I realized. What if those rich people who ride in expensive vehicles, those people who eats more than thrice in a day, those people who lives, breathes, and sleeps with air conditioner on, those people whose expectations and happiness are not always fulfilled, those rich people appreciate simple beauty?
I know nowadays people are so hard to please. That’s because they have high expectations and low self-esteems. They work and work (and work some more) and they do not ask themselves, ‘…is this fulfilling? Do I enjoy what I do? Does my work make me happy?’ Again, if they could only appreciate simple things, then they wouldn’t be so miserable.
People tend to wear sleek new clothes to fit in the new fashion fads. Some people do not stick to one hair style. Guys with long hair put tons of hair gel for their hair to stay fixed. Girls would sometimes spray perfume and after a minute of smelling their own scents and thinking that the scent they sprayed has already evaporated into thin air, would spray some more. Again, if they could only appreciate simplicity, then they wouldn’t be so snobbish and annoying.
Seated politicians are very powerful people. They have the ability to play with the hearts and minds of the masses. While playing with the emotions of their supporters, these politicians turn their backs, hide in the cloak of deceit, and execute their own hidden agendas using the taxes paid by these people who support them. Again, if these crooked politicians would just live simple lives and practice truthfulness and simplicity, they would not be corrupt and unjust.
Yes, contentment is not in the nature of humans. But, isn’t happiness one of our capabilities? Yes, we are not contented with what material possessions we have. But, can’t we be happy with what we experience in our lives? Yes, we are not pleased with all the chaos in our country today, this deplorable state of living. But, can’t we look at the brighter side of the picture and see that the sun will surely rise tomorrow?
The grasses were absolutely striking. Although inanimate, they moved animatedly to a rhythm of simplicity. Although inanimate, they sounded like a haunting breeze that blows the resonance of simplicity. If only we could learn to appreciate these simple things, then we will experience true happiness. Simple isn’t it?
