Simplicity

...a chance to enjoy the sun, sand and the sea

... to breath the fresh air, watch the clear skies


...a hut to rest and relax on a warm summer

... a wildflower always in bloom to enchant everyday

...the refreshing sight of clear waters

"the rewards of a simple life" photos by orange tulip




To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter ... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring—these are some of the rewards of the simple life.

-John Burroughs

Truly, the universal elements are enough to make someone with simple joys wishing to live a simple life, happy. I have been thrilled by the sight of the stars at night most especially when i am in the countryside. I have been most thrilled( and continues to be thrilled) by the sight of the moon especially when it is full.

And i reckon that the moments which i have been truly happy were simply frolicking in the beach with my nephew and niece especially when they were toddlers, an experience that i never enjoyed while growing up with my siblings becase i am always left behind with my books to read. The most memourable mornings are the early morning walks to the orchard with my parents to find which tree bore the most fruits, when i was already a grown up- an experience i again missed as a child. The happiest nights are when the whole brood of brothers and sisters are together (which rarely happen) doing an evening saunter about the naughty things we did while growing up and how we got away with it/them and partaking the simplest meal that we can prepare together while talking and laughing over nostalgia- grilled fish.

Yet nothing compares to the joy of simply enjoying these universal elements by myself, alone in the farm or alone in the beach. These are the moments where i can thank the Creator of all things and giving me the gift of life to enjoy His creations, and feel the joy of being loved too much.

Le but ultime de la vie

the joy of having a rainbow after a storm

the joy of watching the sunset after the rain

the joy of having peace and quiet

the joy of watching seagulls by the beach

" The ultimate point of life is joy"

" Le but ultime de la vie c'est la joie"

-from my Ivory bar soap

I was wondering if Ivory soap would be good for my skin. Already bothered by prices of hypoallergenic popular brands that i have been using, i thought i'd give it a try and ask my doctor if there would be some reactions. I immediately got one when i saw the words scribbled on the packaging of the bar soap, " The ultimate point of life is joy" along with its French translation. I was contemplating to enroll in a French language studies since i became interested of both studying and working in France. Why not? After all, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed in Paris in December 10, 1948 http://www.un.org/rights/ and since it is my subject of interest at the moment it might be great to go there.

I had introductory language studies in French many years back but i quit with the lame excuse that- i am doing a lot of things at the same time. Prior to French, i thought learning the Arabic would be interesting but i have to quit after a couple of one-to-one sessions as my Dad cannot accompany me every session( i was a minor then). Three years back, i ventured in studying the Italian language which i immensely enjoyed at the start but for personal reasons, i quit. Seems that i am only good at starting things, eh? So while still contemplating if i would really enroll in French, learning a few words or few sentences on my own would not hurt.

"Le but ultime de la vie c'est la joie". These words make me smile in agreement. Yes, the ultimate point of life is joy! A three letter word, joy is seen in varying perspectives by individuals of varying backgrounds, personal experiences and values. Some find joy in simple things while others, in bigger things. Some find joy in their solitary moments while others find it in the company of significant others, friends, family or bigger crowds. Some find it in the comforts of their homes while others find it on their overseas travels . Am i getting mixed up with happiness versus joy? Nevertheless, it has led me to retrospection.

The old, but ever reliable Merriam Webster dictionary gives the meaning enties of the word d joy as a noun- 1) the emotion evoked by well being, success or good fortune or by the prospect of posessing what one desires; delight 2) the expression or exhibition of such emotion; gaiety 3) a state of happiness or felicity; bliss 4) a source or cause of a delight while as a verb, joy means to experience great pleasure or delight. Happiness on the other hand means good fortune; prosperity, 2) a state of well-being and contentment; joy, 3) a pleasurable or satisfying experience; felicity, aptness

Well- both practically are synonymous but i have read in one of my father's books that happiness is an emotion resulting from an outward circumstance/s and is fleeting while joy is from within and is felt regardless of the outward circumstances and is lasting. The author has successfully argued the difference of happiness and joy that growing up, i am in constant search not for happiness, but for joy.

Joy is just a three letter word but its meaning varies between individuals depending on their background or personal circumstances. Yet i reckon that no words can suffice to define or describe joy- it is just felt in the heart, maybe for a simple, huge, or probably for no reason at all. It might be a thrill of feeling in love transcending to joy. I also reckon that it is like an oasis in the desert bringing comfort to a weary traveller if he/she is lucky enough to discover but it is always there. Just like the oasis waiting to be discovered, joy is just inside our hearts. Outward circumstances might bring us disappointments, pain, or grief but if we truly find ways to rediscover, joy is just there within us.

The most remarkable and memourable description of joy to me is from my then seven year old nephew(who was born after his parents were married for seven years). He finds joy in the thought that he is too much loved- by his parents, grandparents, kid sister, uncles and aunts including me. He told me that he is happy to receive small and big presents like chocolates, cakes, burgers, fries, toys, clothes, shoes and other things " of value' but he finds tremendous joy when he is showered with hugs and kisses and simply spending time with him. This is probably why when i go home and bring him along to my parents' house, he would always request for a " breakfast in bed", show his sketches and other artworks, ask me to sit down and listen as he plays the piano, wakes up early to join me do brisk walking or walk the puppy some mornings, or simply ask me to listen to his numerous stories.

When i bid temporary farewells to him he would always ask when will i be coming back and when i would ask what present would he like me to bring him he answers " You dont have to bring anything, just save the money to buy tickets to go home as soon as you can. Nothing brings me much joy than having you around because spending time with me brings much joy uncomparable to any presents you have or anyone has given me. "

Such a wisdom from a child but it makes so much sense. This is probably why everytime i give him a call, he would always ask " When will you be coming home?" I would always answer " Surprise!" because i dont want to disappoint him by stating a specific date and time and make him wait in vain if i cannot push through as scheduled.

Yet i am planning to make it soon and i will join him and his kid sister to enjoy the sea and sand, under the sun. As we frolic by the beach and sunbathe, i will also teach him and kid sister a little French, now that i have perfected the line-" Le but ultime de la vie c'est la joie".

Sunrise

waiting for the sunrise, the giver of life on earth, photo taken in May 2007

I am not really a "morning person". Certainly a "sleepyhead", its always a struggle to wake up very early in the morning(I always tell myself- "what's the point?")-I can do anything that I want or required of me to do anytime of the day anyway and there are 24 hours everyday so I rather wake up anytime I feel like it.

Growing up in a tropical country where the sun rises before 6 o clock, my mom tediously wakes me up early mornings to be in school on time, but going to college and living in a dormitory, staying in an apartment and later as a homestay, I carefully chose my classes to be late mornings, afternoons or evenings. Being employed, I was always noticed not only because of my excellent performance and human relations, but for my tardiness as well and I am very comfortable in my own skin-I cannot have everything anyway- or probably I am unwilling to be a conformist. It helped me a lot being assigned to special projects, until I left my first job out of impulse. My second job was a lot tolerant to my being late riser and I enjoyed the relaxed environment immensely despite the injustices that I habitually observed from the management. This world is not perfect and so I am anyway, so I had no other choice but to live with it.

Its always a very special time for me then to try waking up in the mornings when I get the chance to visit other places. Since I became a hobbyist photographer few years back, I started taking sunrises and sunsets as favourite subjects. At times I compare the photos and reminisce the memories that comes with the pictures. I have been a sunset person simply becasue I cannot wake up early to watch the sunrise, because I love the changing colours of the clouds and the skies in minutes and significantly, due to the serenity and the hope that it brings -" have a good rest, tomorrow is another day" .

Looking at my sunrise pictures however has brought me few realisations. First, the colours of the sky and the clouds is exhilarating, having another facet of its own beauty as compared to my favourite sunsets. Second, it brings that feeling of "good cheer". Third, it reminds me of my Biology subject about the sun as a giver of life- as captured in the photo attached(this was taken early in the morning so the sun's UV rays are arguably, not yet harmful). The sun is necessary for the green plants to undergo the process called "photosynthesis" which is very helpful to human food production, thus, aside from the heat that it brings to this planet, it is a giver of life to all forms of existence.

Finally, the sunrise suggests that -Today is a new day, another chance to do things better, probably to love more,hate less, to correct past mistakes, be more tolerant and forgiving. Most importantly, it is a new day to take risks, to find fulfillment in all aspects or simply to be thankful for the gift of enjoying life the fullest i can- even just for today.

Nice lesson from the sunrise, isn't it? I wish I am a fast learner though.