Tuesday, July 31, 2007

rediscovering the child....(myspace entry)

One of the best things about life is realizations can come to you in an instant...in a flash of a second...so quick and fast! You never expect something like that to happen but then it does and then after the moment, you start to contemplate about the moment...lessons learned, the past, what can be done to give significance to the moment...

Christmas Eve and I was late for the family dinner with uncles and aunts and cousins and nieces and nephews. I was eating all by myself at the dinner table and everyone was already enjoying themselves, talking and catching up on the latest news and updating themselves with the latest happenings in their lives and their current location and stuff like that...

I saw my favorite nephew and I asked him to approach me. I smothered him with kisses and on a very sudden impulse, asked him what he wanted as a Chrismas gift. He told me about a new wrist toy which he saw on one of his peers which made a bleeping sound when pressed. I had a feeling he was dying to have one of them and was green with envy at his pal. So I asked him to ask his mother how much the toy was. He said it was worth this and that and he already knew the price and need not ask his Mother. So i went back to my room to pick up some money and I had no idea he had followed me and was asking one of my house companions where I was. Haha...very precocious child...So i gave him some money and he asked my uncle, his grandfather to bring him to the store so he could buy the toy immediately! Haha see? I was right about him wanting so much to have that toy!

Then I thought, this is the probably best way to find your childhood again. To give back to the next generation what you received earlier in life. I mean as kids and even as adults we are all so preoccupied with what we can get out of something. What we can get out of a bond, out of a connection that we fail to see what we can give. As a kid I was always looking forward to these occasions because I would then be showered with gifts. It even came to a point where I wanted too much that I asked myself why I did not have that many godfathers or godmothers or uncles! It also came to a point where I thought it was obligatory for them to give me gifts on special occasions...Pathetic isn't it? But at that moment when I gave my young nephew a simple glimpse of momentary happiness, I was overwhelmed with emotions and I realized that feeling fulfilled does not only mean getting and winning it all but also making others feel happy at the thought that they received something from you. It is the very essence of sharing. To give back to others what you have received from other people....

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Liisa, I think you hit the concept of "Paying it Forward" right on the head. Well done mate!
http://www.payitforwardmovement.org/

Anonymous said...

Liisa,
When I read this story I am reminded of many of the reasons why I love the Filipino people so much. Filipino's have very strong loving families that get together frequently throughout the year and celebrate together. Families in the Philippines are not just a mother, father and one or two children, but are often close to a hundred people including uncles, aunts, grandparents, cousins, god parents, nieces, nephews, friends, and people that have been separated from their own families.

The joy that you felt at being able to make your nephew' wish come true is the joy that comes from true selflessness. This is a trait that is shared by many Filipino's but is sadly lacking by many people in some other cultures.

Although not a Filipino myself I count myself fortunate to be part of the Filipino "family".
John

Anonymous said...

hey Angel~

well written as always.
holidays aren't the same without kids and family...
those little rugrats can really make a bring out the joy of holidays like Christmas and Halloween.

thanks again for sharing the experience

brandon