Purpose of Life
Few weeks ago on my way to work, I walked by my neighborhood building and saw a middle age lady sweeping the entrance floor. She looked up and gave me a timid smile. I reciprocated her friendliness with a broken Spanish “buenos días”. Instantaneously, her face lit up like the sun touched the pond, her shyness disappeared and she responded to my greetings with a big “buenos días”. Our eyes filled with joy and our hearts were warmed by the pleasant encounter. The greetings required so little effort but how much satisfaction, contentment and happiness we bought to each other by simply being “nice”
Some of my "educated" friends in New York used to criticize my friendliness. They lectured me that I would someday get myself in trouble by being so approachable. I understand their concerns. Perhaps in a big city like New York, it is wiser to be more reserved. However, never once did I get myself into serious trouble by being nice to others. I particularly enjoy being friendly with the “humble” people, those who are not necessarily poor, but down to earth, generous, have a sense of humor, treat everyone equal, and have no problem making fun of themselves. For me these people are the happiest folks, they probably can sleep very well at night. They are happy to have more money, equally content to have less material possession. They seem to recognize the important of giving, the joy of sharing, the essence of life, and the epitome of living simple.
I have known those people; some are famous and rich like Werner Buffet, Angelia Jolie, Bill Gate and Princess Diana. When everyone was ignorance about AIDS, Princess Diana would hold an AIDS child and comfort the youngster. She did not care about the potential risk of being so close to a sick child. When the children were starving in Ethiopia, Angelia Jolie visited the place and let the world know that there were children who were desperately need our attention. She could have stay in her fancy home and cared about what to wear for the next Oscar, but for her, visiting Africa took priority. How many women as beautiful as she is would do that? Werner Buffet could have bought himself a bigger, fancier and extravagance home, with a chauffeur, a cook and as many servers as he wants, but he chooses to live simple, is pleased to live in the same house he bought 30 years ago. How many people can be as generous as Bill Gate who gives away nearly all his fortune to charities, including the Smithsonian!
I do not have much in terms of material wealth, but I am blessed to have a gentle heart, to believe in the equality of every living creature in the universe and to have a desire of living simple. Every morning, I wake up feeling more alive and happier than the day before. I think I have found the essence of life…..perhaps more.
